1. it might be that your step model is the issue, test using netgen 2D-1D to see if you spot a hotspot where it is super refined. this is the classic issue users have, and it is due to a really small edge on the step model. 2. any workstation with linux is compatible, you have the universal version that you only need to untar the thing and you have the executable to use (or you can use with script with

./salome -t $script

)