Ok here is what im looking for. I am looking to create SECURE server that will allow me to

access it from anywhere
have multiple user accounts that are entered into with passwords with multiple levels of access to the server (some more privaledged than others)
be able to support mac and windows (one of my workstations will be a mac the other windows)
be able to put my games and music on it from any workstation and access them from others (id like to keep my games on the server and not have to download them onto my workstations because of the room that they take up, i realize thats not realistic for a mac program on a windows computer)
be able to control my workstations remotely from the server
be able to print from anywhere through the server
be able to put the server on sleep or standby and be able to boot it back up remotely a(itd also be great if i could do this to my workstations and printer as well)

i think thats about it i realize i may not be able to do all of these but what is possible please tell me, i have a copy of linux server and i have my own domain name so none of that is an issue, i just dont know how to do what i need. id really appreciate help and i know this will be complicated, but any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

access it from anywhere Sure, it's called ssh.

have multiple user accounts that are entered into with passwords with multiple levels of access to the server (some more privaledged than others) called sudo

be able to support mac and windows (one of my workstations will be a mac the other windows) what do you mean support? as in fileshares? any mac or windows machine can access a linux box in many different ways.

be able to put my games and music on it from any workstation and access them from others (id like to keep my games on the server and not have to download them onto my workstations because of the room that they take up, i realize thats not realistic for a mac program on a windows computer) sure, linux can do this probably acting like a fileserver for the files to reside on but then again, depending on the game, i wouldn't want to run them across a network, better performance locally on your machine.

be able to control my workstations remotely from the server you can easily setup a firewall to forward ports and whatever you like to your final destination for access to other machines.

be able to print from anywhere through the server you want to setup a print server?

be able to put the server on sleep or standby and be able to boot it back up remotely a(itd also be great if i could do this to my workstations and printer as well) servers don't sleep man, it wouldn't be called a server if they did.

From a local network, or the Internet? If it's the latter, you would most likely want to set up a static IP from your service provider.
This is a basic administration task - how the user logs in is what you would want to be concerned with here. More than likely, you'll want to set up an SSH server.
Linux servers have have AppleTalk daemons for years ("netatalk"). The joy of networking, is that as long as it's over a common protocol, supported by both client and server, everything's kosher. Samba would be advised here for file sharing.
I'm not sure this would be possible - unless you want to set up remote X logins (which can be a pain in the ass), which would render the Windows box unusable in this situation (unless you can get an X server for Windows).
You might be able to control the Mac - I don't know any details, though - but this would require you setting up the Mac to be able to host remote connections (via an HTTP server and some dangerous CGI scripts, or SSH).
Wonderfully easy - look into CUPS.
You may be able to - I know with old Sun SPARC stations you could (I own three), but they have power running to the 10/100-Base T cards all the time, which allowed remote power on/power off.

Please post your thread in only one forum. Posting a single thread in the most relevant forum will make it easier for members to help you and will keep the discussion in one place.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=611182

ok how do i set up an ssh server? im completely new to all of this

Google, my friend. Google.

If you want more help, provide which distribution you're using. When trying to learn how to do something, look for information in this order:

1. Distributions docs - practically every distribution provides documentation (on its website) on how to do what.
2. If 1 fails, Google.
3. If 2 fails, ask here.
Supplementary: Also, check man-pages ("man command").

Just about every distro I know of that includes openssh will have this as an option already. All you have to do is start it if it's not already started.

Please read this: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html