Help new webmaster
 

Hi im a new webmaster, been making sites for a while and working on programing at the same time. Since i first heard about linux i have longed to swich but only had one box and had to use it for school stuff, recently i built a server box to run my site and help me get better at my scripting, but i am new to linux, but a big fan and im asking if any one has any words of advice on how to get started and which distro should i use Redhat 9 pro. or Solaris 9, i have knowlege in Java, and C++, amoung others. Well thanks and please reply...

It's hard to pick a distro for somone else. See the review section for other's experiences.

# Linux Distribution links:
A Beginner's Guide to Choosing a Linux Distribution
Reasons to Choose or Not Choose Linux
LWN distro list
elinux Linux Distributions

# Pre-installation guides
GNU/Linux pre-installation checklist
The Pre-Installation Help File

# Partitioning and Linux filesystem structure
Directory Navigation Help File
Filesystems, Directories, and Devices Help File
Proper Filesystem Layout
Advanced filesystem implementor's guide (requires registration)
Linux Partition HOWTO
Rute - Partitions, File Systems, Formatting, Mounting

Apache Documentation

Beginners guide: So, you want to make a Web Page!
Anything else you might need

If your going to run a server, I heard FreeBSD and Slackware are great distro's for servers. If your seriously thinking about servers, then choose one of them 2.

FreeBSD and OpenBSD are not Linux distros, but they are somewhat similar. As far as I know FreeBSD web servers have amazing uptimes compared to any other system. On the other hand, I would think that any Linux distro is adecquate to your task. Picking one is difficult and nobody can do it for you. Is there a particular problem you have with RH?

Yes, as mbegovic said, any good distro should handle web servers. but FreeBSD are great for servers!

Save download time. :D

# Cheap CDs
AlmostFreeLinux
Discount Linux CDs
Linux Central
Cheapbytes
TuxCDs
ComputerHelperGuy
CheapISO
Os Heaven

ulnx.com has some pretty good prices.

It does not really matter, all distro do a pretty good job.

Since no one has given you a definative answer yet I woul suggest using Fedora Core 1, It is easy to use, has a http,ftp,mail server and has a lot of support.

If that box will be hooked up to the internet I'd reccomend getting a special server distro. Those often are more secure than the allround distros. IMO securing a system from scratch is not something a newbie should attempt.

Personally I'm quite fond of clarkconnect but sme might also be a good choice.

hey, check out my website for some cool
linux beginner books

http://www.chongluo.com/books/webserver/index.htm

Yea i decided Redhat 9 pro. and i like it im getting server started i just need a little help finding directories, i know what most directorys are for and i know how apache works ive used it on windows, but im not exactly sure where my acutall web doc folder would be located you know the one that houlds up the temp index file that states that apache is installled, if any one here knows where it would be (not this is redhat 9) please tell thanks....