I need to build a Web Server for running Moodle, and possibly Joomla.
Basically I need MySQL, OpenSSL, PHP, Apache and I need to able to communicate with my existing Microsloth Windows Network.

What is the best distribution for this?

I don't think there's a "best" as it's just web stuff... pretty generic & standard.

Moodle is in the Debian repository. Joomla is not.

The same goes for Ubuntu (I would bet).

The nice thing about these distros is the ease of installation of the packages... If you go to install moodle, the package manager will automatically install apache, php, ssl certs, and postgres (not sure why it chooses postgres, but it does... maybe you can change that by installing mysql first).

I would go with Debian or Ubuntu, but that's based as much on personal preference as anything else.

Thanks Brian, that pretty much answers my question.
I am so new to this that I can barely spell Linux.
I will give Debian a shot and see how it goes.
Again, thanks for the info!

IMHO. I would highly recommend that you start by trying a command line only system in either Deblain, Slackware, ubuntu (Bloatix) or Fedora because IMHO, by learning by to run a system from the command line you actually become a much more adaptable and knowledgeable user. IMHO, You don't learn any thing by using a graphical user interface, however yiu learn a tun by Struggling in a Command Line Interface (CLI).

I think highly of those who see setting up a server not only as a learning experience but as as a good way to dive headlong into an unfamiliar operating system. Please feel free to pm or email me @ stinger.porter@gmail.com with any questions.

Very good advice! Being so engrained in Windows will probably cause me some frustration but any advice on the best way to learn Linux is appreciated.
I am a VB Programmer and CAD Instructor (AutoCAD, Inventor, etc). I've learned by experience that the most difficult students to teach are the ones that have prior CAD experience with other applications.... They think all CAD should work the same way.

I would recommend that you also look into qcad as it is n native Linux/ Unix CAD program.

Well.... All would be great if only the installer had recognized just one of the NIC's that I installed. Even the Intel PRO/100 (e100)wasn't recognized even when I manually selected the driver.
Now I have a working install of Debian with NO NETWORK at all.
All I have to do now is figure out how to install a NIC Driver after Debian is up and running.

IMHO. 3com. Dlink, Nvidia,Real teck, are the best chipset manufacturers when it comes down to guaranteed 99.6% uptime for a mission critical machine like a server or a heavilly used workstation or Family Computer! :P:P

I agree, but the 3Com cards I have are very old (3C905C-TXM) and were not even listed in the driver list. The Intel Pro/100 was listed so I went with it, which didn't work anyway.

I have now gone over to Fedora and it recognized the Pro/100 without any trouble at all. I'll see if I can get something done now!