[filburt1]

I switched my development dedicated server in my basement from Windows Server 2003 R2 to SuSE Linux 10.1. It's actually easier to use, of all things.

http://www.novell.com/products/suselinux/

Download the DVD ISO, burn it to a DVD, and install it. Or, download the ISO, mount it in VMware, and install it inside a VM (probably easier). Make sure you check Apache, PHP, and MySQL (and nearly every PHP module) during the installation. When the install is finally complete, you'll magically have Apache and PHP running.

Come to think of it, I don't remember if MySQL is available with the distribution, because I do remember having to take a bit of extra effort to get it running, especially to configure users and databases.

Network connectivity was never an issue. I just had to open ports in the firewall that Linux includes, and I did it through the yast2 system configuration tool (GUI-based is available) which was really easy. Hell, I've even added a 500 GB drive to it for storing movies and music. I also set up Azureus, paired it with Apache, and can manage torrents at any time I want through a web browser, complete with authentication.

Services I'm using at a glance:

• Apache (with PHP)
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL (better than MySQL in every respect)
• Cron (using it with mrtg to get real-time network usage graphs)
• IMAP mail server, although not yet using any addresses for it so it's idle for now
• SSH server
• VNC server
• SMB server (equivalent to Windows File Sharing)

Stuff Apache is doing, or at least helping with:

• Running the live site http://www.intertubes.org/ , going to be used for tiny live sites and tests of new technologies (in this case, the site uses XHTML 1.1 plus PostgreSQL)
• Running a overview site for my personal use that shows the status of MySQL, PostgreSQL, my TiVo (including listing all the shows on my TiVo), and my desktop.
• Some work-related stuff if I work from home
• Previously mentioned mrtg network graphs
• Torrent management
• Forwarding to my TiVo's web listing service, which I never use due to the second bullet point
• phpMyAdmin, restricted to my subnet
• Music listings
• Webmail (SquirrelMail)

It's ridiculously cool what you can do with it, and easily. Mind you, this is a mere $200 Dell computer (Celeron D 2.53 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 80 + 500 GB hard drive). Amusingly, the 500 GB hard drive I just installed is worth more than the system itself. And it still runs just fine 24/7.

Having said all that, I did know the basics of Linux to begin with (use ls to show files, how to edit Apache configuration files, how to do things safely as root, etc.). If you've ever SSHed into your live server and played around, then you probably will know your way around.

If you can be more specific with what you need, then it'll be easier to help. I feel like a nerd tool now recommending Linux, though. Plus 90% of this post turned into a useless brag about what I've done with my server.