Ok here's my situation. I'm currently running a desktop machine which is basically a file server now. I also have a PowerBook G4 for my main computer because of school. This desktop machine is currently running windows, and I'd like to put linux on it, and would like your reccomendations on distros. I installed RedHat FC2 on my brother's old 700MHz Dell desktop and it works great. I've also used Mandrake before and that worked fine but something just felt weird about it. I guess I can deal with crazy installs as I've attempted and succeeded in installing linux on a Dell Inspiron which was hell, but I am still basically a Linux noob who needs something smooth. I'd rather the end result be smoother. Here's what I would like it to do with stability:

1. Run KDX Server (linux version beta is out BTW)
2. Be a file server and share with Mac and Win (HOW?!)
3. Run mySQL and PHP and be a small web server (apache?)
4. File storage (will be adding HD space soon)
5. Play some media very seldom like mp3, divx, xvid etc.

Here are its specs:
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 1800+
RAM: 1.5GB
mBoard: Giga-Byte 7DXR+
HD: 2x80GB WD
CD: 52x + CDR 32x
VID: ATI Radeon 256MB I think it's a 9600
Floppy

What do you guys reccomend distro wise? I've already tried FC2 and Mandrake10. I'm really digging FC2. Which distros do you think would work best for my five goals above with the latest availbability in versions of software, php, mysql, apache, etc?

Thanks much you guys are always a great help. Looking forward to your replies.

Dave

You can do any of the above with just about any distro. I personally recommend going with Fedora since you are a newb. Samba should be able to share files between linux and windows, although I am not sure about between a mac and linux.

Are there any issues with that ATI? Maybe I'm on crack but I thought I read somewhere with Linux, ATI, and problems in the same sentence. I'm not that worried about it, but just to make sure I'm really on that crack...

ATI has poor drivers for Linux, but that doesnt matter unless you play alot of games. Try Mandrake or Debian (Debian for when you get a little better). For your media, try MPlayer.

I would recommend redhet (fredoria) for you to start with. They usually install everything you should need or want and start the services by default, so its easier on new people.

After that, or if you are feeling adventurous, or when fredoria starts feeling heavy, try out debian. The package management in it simply cannot be beaten; although some problems you encounter take some reading of the man pages / forums / web before they can get fixed. It's nice to just "apt-get install <package>" and the program gets installed, no compiling on your part at all.

I just realized that I just can't type today either... blah.

Moved to the Distributio forum