Laptop for Server administrating...

[Elif Tymes]

Ok, my dad might be getting a job as a server admin for Linux, something new for him. he's been doing 2K and 2K3 for some time now, but he won't be able to keep his old laptop.

He'll be doing stuff with Cisco routers, so he needs a serial port. Anyone have some pointers for a laptop that will run Linux/XP Pro(40-60 GBB HDD space a must) a DVD-RW Drive, a serial port, and can accept SDRAM So-Dimms? It doens'tneed to be 2GHz or anything, just a good sturdy laptop make or model so I can look on ebay.

[Slackfumasta]

A lot of laptops today are not shipping with serial ports, but for under $20 you can purchase a USB to serial adapter which will do the job. In other words, don't hold back on a laptop that would work because it doesn't have a serial port.

I think all the big manufacturers offer laptops with the other specs you are looking for. Heck, my 700m, the smallest lappy Dell makes, has a dual layer capable DVD-RW and takes SDRAM SO-DIMM modules. It also has a 60 GB drive. It's a bit small for using all day though IMO, especially where so much of Cisco configuration is done through command line (the keyboard is rather small).

What you should do is look for a machine that you like, and then pop over to the Alternative Operating Systems forum here and ask if Linux will run on it. I don't think you'll have much of a problem.

If you want a specific laptop model to look for, I would check out either the Dell 600m or the Dell 8600 series for what you want. The 600m is more mobile than the rest (other than the 700m), but the 8600 has a nice wide screen and great battery life. The 9300 might be a bit more than what you are looking for, which is why I wouldn't recommend it first.

[walaka7]

How 'bout a Compaq M700 (prolly the last decent lappy they made) Its durable, uses sdram, and you can find them in 1 ghz P3. They have a serial port and can be found pretty cheap.

[Slackfumasta]

Whoops, missed the ebay part.

Heck, if you're going to go that route, look for an IBM T2x series. I upgraded through three models of them at my last job, used to use them for programming routers and switches and a TON of travel, they held up admirably.

[Elif Tymes]

Yea, we have some M700s... Do you know if we can replace their processors up to 1Ghz?

[four4875]

i bought a beautiful HP pavilion ze4610us lappy form a forum member ecently, it has serial port. but thats about all it has that you wanted, jsut a dvd rom / cdrw, no dvd burning. and it takes DDR.

ando nthe USB adapter, im not too sure how compatible it woudl be with a console cable. so i wouldnt REALLY want to risk it till i had verification (could even buy one and try it on a desktop first, they arent that expensive are they?)