A couple of hardware questions...

[WedgieMan]

I want to setup a system to do a test Linux install without bringing my server down. I have some extra components and can put together a very basic system.

My questions are:
Does Linux require a floppy drive?
Is it right to assume Linux plays better with a GF2MX than a Rage Pro? :D

[Thetargos]

Good questoins indeed... :D

Depending on your mobo (basically if it can boot from CD) you may not need a floppy drive ;)

As to the gfx, absolutely go with the GF2MX, you'll have the benefit of the unified nVidia driver architecture, that ATi does not, or at least for pre R200 chipsets :evil:

Just mind you that in order to be able to install the nVidia driver you need to install the kernel sources (because the driver compiles against it) and you can simply select that at installation time (if you choose to select the packages manually) or at a latter time. In Red Hat or Mandy:

Insert one of the distro's CDs (usually the first)
Open up either redhat-config-packages (in the menu programs--system tools--software manager)
select the kernel sources and their tools
Ready.
Or go the manual way:
In a console...

$ su
passowrd:
# rpm -ivh /mnt/cdrom/kernel-source*

Ready.

:D

[WedgieMan]

Isn't disc one of Mandrake supposed to be bootable?

[nextbillgates]

Isn't disc one of Mandrake supposed to be bootable?

Yes.

[WedgieMan]

OK. For some reason, the drive didn't like being on the secondary IDE chain. I got it working.

[Thetargos]

In my experience that depends greatly on your mobo chipset...