I need some Linux software to...

[GoogalyMoogaly]

Hi all,

Hoping you can help me out a bit.
I'm looking to upgrade the HTPC I built for my parents.
Rather than buying Windows 8 for a PC they haven't used that much I thought I'd try using Linux.

I'm pretty new to Linux myself.
I was planning to use Ubuntu as it the version I had most experience with and seems popular so there seems to be a fair amount of internet stuff on it.
Is there a better distro I should consider for this purpose? I'd also like it to do web browsing, e-mail and all the general stuff PCs do (I'm also a little tempted to put Steam on there, just to see what game I have that run on Linux).

Once that's out of the way I'd like some software, free software if I'm honest, to do the following:

• Monitor temperature and adjust fan speeds (Gigabyte motherboard, in Windows I'd just use EasyTune, doesn't seem to be a Linux version)
• Anti-Virus (is this needed on Linux?)
• Firewall
• DVD player
• DLNA media player/streamer
• E-mail client

Suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[vorticalbox]

• Monitor temperature and adjust fan speeds (Gigabyte motherboard, in Windows I'd just use EasyTune, doesn't seem to be a Linux version)
• Anti-Virus (is this needed on Linux?)
• Firewall
• DVD player
• DLNA media player/streamer
• E-mail client

Suggestions?

Thanks.

use the bios for fans?

Anti virus only need as you might not get infected but you can pass on infects VIA email etc.

VLC for all your video needs

xbmc for DLNA http://xbmc.org/download/

Linux should have thunder bird included.

 

[GoogalyMoogaly]

As I recall the motherboard's BIOS doesn't have the best fan controll options in the BIOS.

I was thinking of VLC and XBMC, but wondered if there were better option for Linux.

Any idea on what AV or firewall to use in Linux?

 

[SPS]

As I recall the motherboard's BIOS doesn't have the best fan controll options in the BIOS.

I was thinking of VLC and XBMC, but wondered if there were better option for Linux.

Any idea on what AV or firewall to use in Linux?

Gufw and I know that ClamTK exists.

 

[Zoot]

For temperatures and stuff you can use lm-sensors. It might not be as swank as the windows alternatives but it'll pick up most stuff on your motherboard.

This is the output I get from it on my Gigabyte 790FX board:

mark @ ~ $ sensors
k10temp-pci-00c3
Adapter: PCI adapter
temp1:        +35.2°C  (high = +70.0°C)
                       (crit = +79.0°C, hyst = +77.0°C)

it8720-isa-0228
Adapter: ISA adapter
in0:          +0.96 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
in1:          +1.60 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
in2:          +3.34 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
+5V:          +2.96 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
in4:          +3.06 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
in5:          +1.81 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
in6:          +4.08 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
5VSB:         +2.91 V  (min =  +0.00 V, max =  +4.08 V)
Vbat:         +3.09 V  
fan1:         927 RPM  (min =    0 RPM)
fan2:           0 RPM  (min =    0 RPM)
fan3:           0 RPM  (min =    0 RPM)
fan4:           0 RPM  (min =    0 RPM)
fan5:           0 RPM  (min =    0 RPM)
temp1:        +39.0°C  (low  = +127.0°C, high = +127.0°C)  sensor = thermistor
temp2:        +33.0°C  (low  = +127.0°C, high = +127.0°C)  sensor = thermal diode
temp3:        +36.0°C  (low  = +127.0°C, high = +127.0°C)  sensor = thermistor
cpu0_vid:    +1.050 V
intrusion0:  ALARM

Fan control is another thing, I think it's possible on newer motherboards with a package called "fancontrol". I've never tried it though. To be honest, the easiest option is probably manually volting the fans down using Molex connectors.

 

[Wraith]

I was going to say LM-Sensors and then you should look at tinkering with Conky. Have fun.