Sup guys.

First off if someone can message me on aim "mfgcyrus" if you know how to setup a webserver and can give me exact instructions on how to do so. Since im new i need all the help i can get. thx.

Second off im a brand new user of linux.. Right now im using a copy of redhat i downloaded a while ago and just decided to install it since i want to run a webserver and people tell me good things about linux and how reliable it is.. we'll see! My question was is it the best idea to use redhat or another linux version to run a webserver? If so which is better than redhat and why?

install apache, edit httpd.conf, and start apache.

it doesn't matter what distro you pick, apache is mostly likely the server you will use... just get a distro that will let you install a non GUI version of linux, as a webserver has no need for a GUI that will slow it down

he AIMmed and i recommended FreeBSD for him instead of redhat on a server

http://us3.php.net/install.apache2

If you use FreeBSD use gmake where it says use make.

well it wont let me install freebsd.. whenever i start the install and after the first 26 files are installed it get an error: Write_DMA UDMA ICRC blah blah.. Unless anyone knows what the problem is.. im forced to go with something else other than freebsd.. any suggestions?

I should have mentioned this before but if your a new linux user and have already gotten your hands wet in it, stay away from BSD for a while. Be look at it once you get comfortable with Linux though.

Fedora and Suse are going have easy installs, Ive heard linspire (what ever it is...used to be Lindows) is quite easy too. Fedora takes a lot of configuring to get good performance because its bloated. On the other hand your not going to find any better hardware detection. Check out yum if you go with Fedora. Havent tried Suse or Linspire.

My favorate... Slackware is pretty easy to install and is great for learning learning linux. Its also pretty stripped down so performance will be pretty good without modification. Be sure to check out swaret if you go with slackware. Also SLAX is a live slackware version under 210Mb if you want to see it from a user stand point.

Debian seems to be one of the more popular distro's. I havent looked at it much but the install was quite difficult compared to any of the previous distro's Ive mentioned.

I still havent tried Gentoo cause I havent been able to get any of my spare boxes running yet. It sounds like it rules. Pretty much it compiles everything from source so performance will be great. emerge sounds like it kicks apt-get, yum, and swaret in the face, configures your packages, compiles them, and is ready to do some more kicking (yea thats good).

Just look around at different distro's and see what they have to offer...they are all Linux! Go with one you like.

Check out some of the live CD's if they are offered. Some of the better known live cd's are.
Knoppix - debian based
slax - slackware based
I believe slackware may have an official live cd now...not possitive.
A nice list can be found here:
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

k sounds good.. im downloading slax now. i hope everything works out good.. and thx spec for all the info.

well it installed in like 5 min.. which is really good.. but only problem is.. i dont think it has a webserver that comes with it.. so ill need to download it.. and i dont know how to install apache. so im back with getting stuck..

If you're using slackware then it's simple (slax is based on slackware).

* Goto http://www.linuxpackages.net/
* Search for apache (form at top left)
* Download the .tgz-package of your will (apache or apache2)
* run installpkg xxxx (xxxx is the name of the package)

There, now you have your webserver! Be sure to read some documentation because that's where the experts of that software give advice...

my *ss.

I recommend debian.
VERY good [probably best] packaging [update] system and probably 10x more stable and more tested than any other linux/*bsd distro.

I run ~50 servers and routers and for me theres no replacement to debian.

cheers,
http://www.axeltabs.com/

__
axel.

ok ill take a look at debian after i install slackware.. i already downloaded slackware 9.1 and im stuck on the partitioning. can someone give me exact instructions on how i make a linux partition.. it says to use either cfdisk or fdisk. right now i deleted all my partitions and tried to get it to make a new one but not sure what to type.. says fdisk /dev/hsdsomething not too sure.. what im doing right this sec is i added a partition using my win98 disk and formatting the computer.. then ill try again to see if it will work. if not then ill leave it up to you guys to help me..

yup i stuck.. fdisk /dev/hda is what i type.. since it says that when i type fdisk.. any idea whats wrong? can someone with a good knowledge with slackware contact me on aim "mfgcyrus"

ok got it working.. so happy.. that was the hardest thing i have ever done in my life.. lol j/k but it was a pain in the butt... u do fdisk -l find the dev/hdc crap and then do fdisk /dev/hdc then u delete partition make a new one for linux code 83 then make another partition code 82 swap. wand write.. whahhaha i feel so proud of myself.. rofl.. anyways... im doing a full installation.. 2 gigs .. but i didnt download the 2nd cd.. so gatta do it now.. wish me luck

o WOW 4 cd's.. errr.. that would make more sence on why it's 2 gigs.. o well here we go..