Linux box upgrade, opinions welcome

[Andy_L]

Current specs: P-Pro 200/512k, Intel ATX m/b, 128Mb EDO Simms, 16M TnT pci, sb awe 64, Adaptec 2940U, 4.5 GB Ibm hdd. I use the pc for learning/playing with linux, will be using it for a proxi/router soon. It is stable but slowwwww. I am considering an Intel overdrive proc for about $100 on Ebay, but am wondering if i shouldnt just suck it up and work with what i have. Like i said i am just looking for some opinions...

[CMonster]

Andy, something is a little wrong - slow compaired to what, an Athlon 800? That box should be screaming with Linux. Perhaps you are running too many services -I remember my first Linux install was so slow and I came to find out later that I was even running a Apache (web server) in the background.

If you are using a default install of Linux it may be using a i386 kernel - try compiling a new kernel for a 686/PPro.

BTW, that box will make a great router/proxy.

[Andy_L]

Actually compared to a 1 G T-bird ;-).
I am taking your advice tho, and you are correct about the i-386, a freind at work has offered to asist in the re-compile also.

[Wilan Wong]

How do you actually re-compile it?? I'm quite new to linux compiling and stuff, just use a text editor?? or u have to modify the source code??

[Andy_L]

http://www.linux.com/howto/HOWTO-INDEX/os.html#OSKERNEL

[Wilan Wong]

Thanks for the link, Andy_L!

[Andy_L]

Sorry i took so long :-)
also if you "cd /usr/src/linux" then "ls" you will see a readme like README.kernel-somenumber or similar, use less to open it, ie "less README.kernel-somenumber" there will be a pretty decent help file there.
also, dont forget to "make mrproper" before you start to comile the kernel, it cleans up the last kernel compile. oh yeah, and "q" will get you out of the "less" text readout.