Alternative OSes for IBM hardware. Any suggestions?

[BaldAvenger]

Hey, all.

I'm trying to find an alternative OS to use on an IBM eServer we have sitting derelict in our server room. Last year we moved our Production software to a new Power6 server which left the previous Power5 box unused. While we have an AIX license for the machine, its a somewhat custom version that was modified for our software vendor's platform.

I've done some googling and found a little bit of info relating to this, but I can't seem to find any decisive answers to this question. I did read somewhere that NetBSD would be compatible, but I also read a few things that contradicted this on some other sites. At this point I'm beginning to think there isn't anything out there that would facilitate this, but i am hoping I'm wrong on that count.

To be honest, I am not sure just what I would use the server for. Some type of web server setup would be most likely, possibly to host our company intranet. I've also though about using it as a SAN. Mostly, I just hate to see a good server go to waste.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

(And, yes, I have already though about using it for target practice, boat anchors, a coffee table, aquariums, etc. Not quite what I had in mind... yet.)

 

[Platypus]

PPC Linux or PPC BSD should work fine on it I would think.

 

[Nothinman]

Yea, I would say any Linux PPC port should work but I have no idea how well the support for the add-in cards would be.

 

[BaldAvenger]

Thanks for the suggestions. I might try one of the BSD flavors I've found.

Appreciate the help!

 

[RebateMonger]

To be honest, I am not sure just what I would use the server for.

Maybe this is trying to tell you something? We all hate to throw things away, but there are definite costs to keeping a server running, maintained, and backed up.

 

[Nothinman]

Thanks for the suggestions. I might try one of the BSD flavors I've found.

Appreciate the help!

I'd try Debian before a BSD...

 

[ch33zw1z]

If you don't have a use, another option is to sell it. To my knowledge, Power5's are old but not obsolete, recover some funds!

Anyways, here's the P system website, I'm sure you can find all the info there:

http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/p/

 

[ultimatebob]

Doesn't Red Hat and SuSE still have PowerPC builds available for their versions of Linux?

Of course, the only commercial software that you could probably get for PowerPC Linux would probably be IBM software. I hope that you have a strong desire to build yourself a DB2, WebSphere, or Domino server...

 

[Nothinman]

Doesn't Red Hat and SuSE still have PowerPC builds available for their versions of Linux?

Of course, the only commercial software that you could probably get for PowerPC Linux would probably be IBM software. I hope that you have a strong desire to build yourself a DB2, WebSphere, or Domino server...

Virtually all free software should run just fine so why would commercial software even be a concern?

 

[ultimatebob]

Virtually all free software should run just fine so why would commercial software even be a concern?

Are you sure of that? Most of the Linux software packages out there are for x86, not PPC.

I guess that you could compile the stuff yourself from source and hope for the best, but that can be a pain in the ass.

 

[xSauronx]

Are you sure of that? Most of the Linux software packages out there are for x86, not PPC.

I guess that you could compile the stuff yourself from source and hope for the best, but that can be a pain in the ass.

debian has had a ppc branch for a while now iirc

 

[Modelworks]

PPC linux of some sort would be my choice. As said it may be time to move on. I attended an auction last year where the counties schools were auctioning off old computer gear. There was a couple AS/400 completely intact that after the auction the auctioneer had to PAY someone $10 to take it to the dump.


It is really a shame how much waste there is in the used server market. You can get servers all the time that are only a few years old that really just end up in the landfill because companies don't like to use used servers but prefer new ones with service and support.

When you see servers like this selling for $180 it shows how bad the resell market has become.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DL580G2-XEON30X2-3R&cat=SYS

HP ProLiant DL580 Generation 2 (G2) high-performance 4U server is powered by two (2) Intel Xeon MP 3.0 GHz processors and includes 8 GB DDR RAM (expandable up to 32 GB). With a hot-pluggable memory board, you can add and remove memory without powering down! Manage your storage options with the HP Smart Array 5i storage controller and four (4) 36.7 GB 10,000 RPM SCSI Ultra320 hard drives for tons of reliable storage capacity.

 

[Nothinman]

Are you sure of that? Most of the Linux software packages out there are for x86, not PPC.

I guess that you could compile the stuff yourself from source and hope for the best, but that can be a pain in the ass.

Quite sure. Debian builds everything in their repos for all of the architectures they support, including PPC.