File/print server
 

Hi Guys!

what Distro would be the best to use as File/Print server? also maybe I would like to use it as mail server in the future? I have some experience using OpenSuse. what do you guys recommend?
Thanks!

Opensuse would work well, as would any of the major server distros - Redhat/CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu server, Slackware, Gentoo, etc.

If you know OpenSuSe, I'd probably stick with that. Note that you probably won't want to run the GUI for a server, but you can if you want.

why do you recommend not to run the GUI?

a few weeks I downloaded a SME server and after installing I realized there was not GUI!!! as you know I'm a newbie so not having a GUI really disappointed me..

There's nothing wrong in having a GUI on a server as such.
Theoretically it does increase the 'attack surface' / places where things can break, but its not that big a deal really.
Also, it doesn't provide any noticeable overhead. If you're not actually typing/clicking into it, most of it it gets swapped out.
That being said, in 'serious' environments, most admins don't run a GUI. Its also worth learning the CLI for when things break. Also, you'll be wanting to automate stuff and that means CLI programming.
Do go through the whole system and remove any SW you don't actually use.

Add to that the fact that most server applications (MTAs, webservers, etc.) generally don't have their own GUI interfaces, there isn't a lot of point.

thanks for your responses. I will give it a shot running a file server with no GUI. I'm a newbie and I'm learning shell scripting. I actually love the CLI, I actually run it most of the time on my OpenSuse box unless I need to do some GUI work but I never run a system without any GUI at all BESIDES M$crosoft DOS when I was 9 years old!

Well, there's nothing to stop you starting with an install that runs at level 5 (X-win/Gui), then opening xterms to work at for stuff you understand and use the gui for stuff you don't.
Eventually, when you've learnt everything you need, you can set /etc/inittab initdefault to level 3 and reboot and all you get loaded is cli.
Also means if you get stuck again, you can 'startx' and use the gui.

thx Chris I will give it a shot!