Linux repairs and service
We've been building and servicing Linux servers and desktops in Perth for over fifteen years. Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, CentOS, Fedora and Red Hat.
Choosing a distribution
Whichever you pick, judge it on four things: good repositories, how often it's updated, how widely it's used, and whether it'll still be around in five years.
Debian
One of the two most stable distributions going, and the foundation almost everything else is built on.
Ubuntu
OUR PICKA Debian fork, so it inherits all of Debian's strengths and adds features that make it more versatile.
Mint
A fork of a fork of a fork — but strong community support and a genuinely user-friendly interface make up for it.
CentOS & Fedora
CentOS for servers, Fedora for software development. Both widely recommended for stability, support, repositories and longevity.
What I use, and why
Personally I prefer Ubuntu's LTS version. It meets all my criteria — common, well supported, and updated frequently without the churn.
There's a practical reason too. TeamViewer, which is how we support a lot of machines remotely, works best on Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE and CentOS according to its own documentation. If you want remote support to be straightforward, that list is worth paying attention to.
How a Linux repair actually works
One of the best things about Linux is that the core of it is a single program — the kernel. Over time, on any distribution, that kernel gets updated. The previous kernels stay on the machine, reachable from the bootloader, which on most systems is GRUB.
So the most common Linux repair we do is this: an update breaks a module, the machine won't come up properly, and booting to the previous kernel gets it running again straight away.
The machine is back up while we diagnose the update problem rather than after. Linux can also boot into single-user mode without mounting the drives at all, which is what we use when the file system itself is corrupt.
Custom Linux builds
We've built and maintained business-grade Linux servers for years. These are the ones we're asked for most.
Email servers
For businesses where the confidentiality of your information is paramount and you'd rather it didn't sit on someone else's platform.
File servers
General purpose file sharing for business users — one place the whole office works from, with permissions that make sense.
Backup servers
Straightforward, reliable backup using RSYNC. Set up once, checked regularly, and restorable when you actually need it.
VPN servers
Secure remote access to business data for staff working off-site, without opening the whole network to the internet.
Virtualisation servers
Proxmox lets you build and run several servers or workstations on one piece of hardware — file and media sharing, video capture and home automation all on the same box.
More on virtualisationLinux workstations
Custom machines for specific jobs — decrypting encrypted hard drives, or machine learning work in Python.
Why Linux is worth considering
You've almost certainly used Linux already today without noticing.
It's free
No licence cost, on as many machines as you like. For a server that runs for years, that adds up.
Built for the job
Easily customised, so a machine can be built to do one thing well instead of everything adequately.
You already use it
Modems, surveillance recorders, security cameras and your own phone are all running Linux underneath.
Thirty years hardened
Three decades of heavy use in exactly the places that get attacked most. The rough edges were sanded off long ago.
What Linux work costs
Free diagnosis, then a fixed price before any work starts. Builds are quoted once we know what the machine is for.
All prices include GST and exclude hardware, which is quoted separately and shown to you before anything is ordered. Figures shown are indicative starting prices, pending Digby's confirmation.
Other things we do
IT support
- Networks and servers
- Remote and on-site support
- Email setup
Windows repairs
- Desktops, laptops and servers
- Update and boot problems
- Legacy Windows
Computer repairs
- Slow computer and laptop repairs
- Broken screen replacements
- CMOS battery replacement
Apple Mac repair
- iMac, MacBook and Mac mini
- Hard drive and SSD replacement
- Damaged screens
Laptop repairs
- Screen replacement
- Laptop not booting
- Overheating and power faults
Got a Linux machine that needs looking at?
Repair, service or a build from scratch — tell us what it needs to do and we'll tell you what it takes.