i can get pcs with these specs, 133 mhz 2GB hard drives, not that great but for 10$ each

i heard you could network them or something and have 2 or more pcs work as one and make it more powerful, is this posible?

Not more powerful but more stable and effecient.

It's called Clustering. You can only share the server load through out the servers.

i want to do this with a personal pc

Depending on how much RAM you have and barring any totally sucky hardware issues, that would be just fine to use. I have a network of systems, and some running Linux of BSD are as low as Pentium 75's with 12 Megs RAM and for a lot of things over a network, you probably won't notice any lag. It depends on the software you're running though. X or whatver else, will require more resources, but it depends. That's enough CPU and enough hard drive space to use Linux just fine. If you want a gaming system though, well, you'll be able to guess. For a workstation, a print station, a router/gateway, or a server (for testing, experience, learning, or whatever) it'll be great, if you have enough RAM (which is cheap if you can find it). Those systems are definitely worth $10 each - I'd buy them for that in a second.

yeah.. I've got a similar machine running as my firewall / gateway at home. It'd retail for about US$50 in Australia.

how do you make a pc your firewall gateway or proxy?

Here are some realy easy ways :

freesco.org = 486, no hdd, 2 network cards, floppy, boots from floppy providing simple Linux bridge / router.

smoothwall.org = 486 / pentium, 20mb hdd, network cards, advanced router

mandrake.org > check out Mandrake Sec, 350 odd Mb of Mandrake firewall.

If you can, download or burn the Mandrake Sec, its worth it.

These are all free.

If you are new to linux, I'd recommend using trustix (trustix.net) as they turn off a lot of unneccessary features by default. ie. X is not installed because you don't really need one as a server. It is already configured to be secure so you have less to worry about. There are still some things to set up but it is much safer for the newcomer (and dare I say, expert). I can't go through all the steps of setting up a firewall or gateway to the internet on this thread cos 1. it'd take me too long and 2. reading the documentation available already and doing it yourself is very rewarding.

good luck :)

Where can I buy crapy comps like that? p133 etc?

Chris

i live in WA, and theres a Boeing Surplus here in renton...


http://www.boeing.com/assocproducts/surplus/retail/index.html

and theres a Boeing Surplus here in renton...

damnit! WA is too far..! are there any in Melbourne? They's a Boeing in Fisherman's Bend but I haven't heard of them selling old stuff. :bawling: