I am trying to set up an old computer as a website. What I would like to do is have it set up so I can access the website server from other computers. I would also like to have this computer as a router but I am lost. This is completely new to me. I tried to install Freesco but I need to have a fat 16 or a fat 32 partition and right now I don't have one. The computer I am using is:

350(PII) Processesor
327 megabytes of RAM
Two Ethernet cards
Two HD's((1 -) 12 GB and (1 -) 20GB)

I plan on using both hd's for this. I have Mandrake 10.1 Official installed but I am willing to try another one. I need something that is easy to understand at first or at least some good how-to's that guide me. Preferably a distro with some kind of gui, even a basic one.

I have looked here and TLDP and I really don't know where to start. Any info/help would be great. Thanks.

EDIT: I wanted to add that I have a cable connection to the internet. About 350 upload.

Webwolf

Ok. I found part of my answer. I need to understand LAMP and start there. What I would like to know is if there's a distro that works great with LAMP. Something that isn't bogged down with non-essential programs, something small. I would rather have something small and add what I need then have a larger distro and have to take things away. I would still like to have something with somekind of GUI if possible. Any recommendations?

Thanks

Webwolf

LAMP just means Linux Apache Mysql and PHP, which is a common setup for a linux web server. Unless you actually need php and mysql then you can just make a LA, ie Apache on Linux.

There is by no means a diffinitive correct answer on the way to implement your server so I'll just mention the path I would take if I had the same needs. Warning: i am biased to Debian. Warning2: i am not an expert - just trying to get you started.

I would choose Debian Woody(stable) unless hardware or features require something more modern. I would not be tempted to go past Debian Sarge(testing). One of the great things about learning debian is that when you research stuff and discover that you need to install something then a few minutes later(depending on the download) its installed and done.

I would use the smaller drive for the "main" part of your system. You will prolly want to put /home /tmp and /var on the larger drive.(which would include the webserver data)

I recommend a "light" window manager. IceWM is my favorite and i use it on all my machines regardless of the CPU in the machine. This will give you a gui without too much overhead. Another option would be to use any desktop environment you like but shut it down when the server is just doing website serving duties.

If you use debian and you choose "Web Server" during the installation, this should give you a functioning webserver after the installation is complete.

Routing can be done easily after the fact.

Dont be too scared of not geting a lean install of debian first go, pretty much no matter what you choose it should fit on the smaller drive without problems. It is trivial to remove unwanted packages after the fact. And to really trim down, the package deborphan can be helpfull.

You did not mention if this was going to be your development environment for your website. If so you would probably be better off with a lean window manager.

You didnt mention if your site was static or fancy, there are lots of mod's that can be installed to add features to apache. like php, perl, python.

Ok I havent covered everything, but a "Web Server" install of debian should give you a box that you can start to muck around with.
After that you should look into apache security, setting up a firewall, your routing(obviously), if you are accessing the machine remotely you will need to determine how you want to modify your website data.
One of the nics will point to the internet(cable modem?) and the other should hit your lan(hub?)

ok geting disjointed now, good luck with it!