Linux Suggestions?

[Just Doug1]

I'm looking at taking my house server over to Linux.

It mostly does resource sharing (file and directory via share names) and printer sharing. I would like to incorporate an email server and web server eventually.

I plan to use FireFox for web browsing and currently use Pegasys Mail for email and I will have to install WINE so I can use µTorrent.

The hardware config is as follows:

Epox 8K5A2+ with 1G RAM
AMD Barton 2500+ (stock speeds)
nVidia Gforce 3 64M card

The onboard IDE controller is current running 2 x 80G drives, a CD burner and DVD burner.

The mobo has a HighPoint 372 RAID controller that is running 4 IDE drives, but not using RAID

I have added a Silicon Image based Sil 0680 Ultra 133 Medley controller that is also running 4 IDE drives, again not using RAID.

I also have a Promise 100TX (TX100?) controller which is currently running 1 IDE drive.

All hard drives are currently NTFS, so I plan to replace the 80G Windows boot/app drive (in a drive caddy) with a 20G Linux boot drive to get me started.

As I understand it, Linux has only r/o support for NTFS so I realize that I will have to convert drives over to a Linux file system for full functionality so when things are happy, I'll use the freed up 80G to begin that process.

I would like to get the initial setup (Linux with r/o on NTFS and shared printer) done a.s.a.p.

My questions are:

1) What distro would you recommend for this setup? Why?

2) As I am missing a driver CD for the Silicon Image controller card, will the distro you recommend have a driver for it?

3) Is CUPS still used to share printers with Windows systems?

4) What email app would you recommend?

5) Has anyone used the Linux version of Nero and how do you like it? Is it compatible with the distro you recommend? If not, what would you recommend for burning?

Thanks for your time and please feel free to add any other info or links to Linux resources/forums that you think might help.

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[ssadams]

if your gonna use it as a file and print server then i recomend e-smith (mitel networks) redhat based server

[Just Doug1]

Thanks for the tip ssadams. I'll look into that distro.

[ssadams]

it does it all and it has a web based interface so it doent even need a monitor after its setup.
mind you it will blank any drive you choose to set it up on so be prepaired !
it does recognise some sata and 3rd party ide controllers and loves HP laserjet and deskjet printers. I use mine as a domian controller for easy file and printer sharing

[Just Doug1]

That's why I plan to remove my XP and apps drive and give any distro a clean 20G drive to get the ball rolling.

I have a KVM switch do share between this system and the server so the web interface isn't as important, but I could likely use it from work, etc.

[ssadams]

this distro does not come with XServer so after its installed you either have to use the web interface from a different machine or use the built in text browser (i think they include lynx) to do the config

[Just Doug1]

It's good to know that now instead of after the install. :)

I'm going to play around with the Knoppix and Kubuntu Live DVD's this afternoon and see what I think.

Any caveats on those distros?

[Digiital]

If this was just a machine for file sharing/printing, in other words not as a desktop then for sure I would say use CLARKCONNECT

[Just Doug1]

The prime use will be file and printer sharing, but I would also like to burn CD's and DVD's, some BitTorrent stuff and well as expand its uses to include Web and email servers eventually.

[ssadams]

for file and print server both will do. Talk about easy setup for file sharing and email server, both are a breeze. I think Clark comes with a funtioning web server, i know mitel does. As for dvd/cd burning both these distros are server based and not ment to be used as desktops hence most of the apps your likely to find with a typical linux install are missing.