Top 5 linux uses for an old pc

I recently found this post. Being a Linux user and, looking around my house, i saw that this was going to be an easy post for me. So, here is my Top 5 uses for an old PC …. from a Linux users perspective

1. router ..install a couple or three NICs and a copy of IPCOP or Smoothwall and, your in business. ( I’ll post on the use of these router apps later, I have much to say !! )
2. file server Samba shares are easy to set up. Get your self a large HDD for around $50 to $75 bucks and store your music or photos here and save space on your personal PC.
3. backup server ..basically the same as the file server and fulfill the ever important backup!, backup!, backup!
4. logging server … if your a linux user, your logs are important to you. Send them to an alternate location to keep a untampered with copy.
5. web server … this is good, not only for not only simple sites, but for learning purposes. You can host a simple site using minimal resources until your site hits reach a point that the old PC can’t handle the load. Of course, you’d want to monitor this so that you move the site before this happens. We don’t want your site going down when your traffic takes off.

Bonuses … if your a new Linux user, there are many thing that you can do with that old pc. There is so much to learn, expand your horizons .. like a time server for your local network, DNS, PDC, login server, and the list goes on. I will post more on each of these subjects, for I am very excited about all of the things that I have been able to do with my old pc’s and a linux distro (My favorite being Slackware).