This is the easiest part:
Windows:
Install Peer Guardian and utorrent
Download your hopefully legal content!
Linux:
Download: XAMPP
Install, this is a very easy installation!
Enjoy your webserver/filesever!
Regards,
Steven Roddis
Ok, you have an old computer that you will never use as your main pc, however you would either:
So let’s start with the OS (Operating System):
Windows or Linux?
If you want to run do file sharing or a webserver: Linux
Downloading Stuff: Windows
Hang on a sec, Windows??? on an old PC. Oh.. yeah we can use something like 98?
No… Windows XP pro on an old pc, it can be done!
My choice of Windows was because Peer Guardian and utorrent run on it. (For “borrowing” music, games, tv shows. (You name it)
Installing the OS:
Get a copy of windows 98+ (utorrent works on 95 but PG doesn’t and our next program doesn’t support NT or 95 either)
Installing windows is easy, with XP you just pop in the disc, and follow the steps.
Or you could look at some of these guides if you are really stuck:
Note for this example I am using Windows XP Pro :
So what is all this fuss about putting windows [running fast] on an old pc?
The Software from LitePC makes it possible. Get the version for your OS.
Yes, you could get it illegally, but they do a dam good job, so I would pay for it. (There is a FREE version)
If you need help, again you can drop me a line, or look at the knowledge base.
Now you have a fast windows based pc, and you are ready for the next step. :)
Step 1: Find a Linux Distro…
I love easy to install, easy to use, (and fast) ubuntu would be your best bet.
How can I get ubuntu?
Download and Burn it:
http://www.ubuntu.com/download
Get it shipped to your FREE:
How do I install it?
Configure Remote Access:
Linux (Ubuntu):
First we need to enable the root user:
So login and type:
sudo passwd root
su
(You now use that account so type exit to logout and then log back in again as root.)
Type:
apt-get update
apt-get install ssh openssh-server
Beautiful!!!
Now to access we need a SSH Client.
Windows:
Putty (You just need Putty)
Mac OS:
If you are using Linux (as a client) you can install ssh (In ubuntu: apt-get install ssh)
Putty is very easy to use: ie. just type in the IP Address of the computer, and all good.
How to find the IP Address:
ifconfig (it is ipconfig for windows)
Will tell you all that you need to know! :)
Windows:
You have two choices here if you are using XP Pro or 2000:
Remote Desktop (RDP)
Or VNC
My Favourite VNC Server: TightVNC (Did I mention the price?? Free!)
If you don’t have either XP Pro or 2000 then you will have to use VNC.
Part two is coming soon!
How many times have I been around a WiFi spot and wanted to remotly administer a computer but only had my PDA with 
me?
Well to many times, so I searched around for some free pocket SSH Clients and I also included a VNC Viewer for PDA’s too.
PocketPutty (http://pocketputty.duxy.net)
This SSH Client doesn’t require installation on your pocket pc and can be run straight away. It supports SSH1/SSH2 and Telnet. It also has a compression option that helps conserve bandwidth.
OpenSSH CE (http://www.eskimo.com/~webguy/service/openssh.html)
OpenSSH CD Doesn’t not require instalation aswell, but does require the user to configure it. (Putty doesn’t) OpenSSH CE does support secure file transfer whereas Putty doesn’t.
Putty = Fast Setup
OpenSSH CE = More Things
VNC Viewer for Pocket PC (http://www.cs.utah.edu/~midgley/wince/vnc.html)
Works on:
* PocketPC 2000 [ARM] [MIPS] [SH3]
* PocketPC 2002 [ARM]
* PocketPC 2003 [ARM]
Steven
It states a minimum of 512Mb of RAM, however it says that you would want at least 1gb of RAM. A “A graphics processor that will support Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM)”PC systems with GPUs that do not support WDDM will only be able to provide a Windows XP-comparable desktop graphics experience, with regards to features, stability and performance. For storage Microsoft hasn’t stated anything yet. Ok, now for the CPU, AMD’s list of cpus is here:
Intel’s list (<-- Click) Read the rest of this entry »
The lastest Lego Mindstorms, NXT is coming out in Augest this year, I hope the same time for Australia,
It has bluetooth, a new “brain”, ultrasonic sensor (I made my own home-brew one for RIS 1,1.5&2). A sound sensor that enables the robot to react to sound commands, including sound pattern and tone recognition, I can’t wait to develop my own software for this. They say an improved light sensor that detects different colors and light intensity, not sure if this means an upgrading the the [kiddy] software. Boys use GUIs Men use code. Again they say that they improved the touch sensor to react to touch or release and allows robots to feel. But I mean we could do that before it gave us a raw value and we went with it. One really great thing is the “3 interactive servo motors feature inbuilt rotation sensors to align speed for precise control” Been waiting for this. And then they include 519 pieces (”hand-selected”, oh… lar..di..dar…), Probably a great thin is the bluetooth. (If you don’t have bluetooth you can use a USB2.0 cable.) I just hope that it has a fast processor, a decent amount of on board memory. (But I can always take it a part and add some more) What I would really like to see is battery time… 12 hours using all the devices… that would rule… and a dam DC input… (And possible aswell charging from the USB port…) A removable rechargable lithium-ion battery would rule. They are light and have no memory effect. One thing that people were wanting with Vision Command, was that they could plugin the camera into the RCX and the RCX would do the job of Vision Reconition. Not sure if we can hack this baby to use it’s USB2.0 port… maybe we would have to use a small resolution? My 233 could take 640×480 so if they include a processor like that they are fine. One thing that also is good is the upgrade from a 16-bit to a 32-bit processor. So that it can handle larger integer without resorting to functions that use arrays to mimic 32-bit integars. ROBOT magizine reviewed it. Overall I am going to buy one… and hack it to the max. :)
Steven Roddis
