What do you recommend?

I would personally love to try something like Paloma or digitaldj but have completely failed to get a remote mysql server up, running, and magically filled with ID3 information.

Are there any GOOD howtos for n00bs like myself on how to get one of these database oriented packages up and going?

Andromeda looks good but I have trouble paying $$$ for something that should have (and seems to have too) excellent free alternatives?

I'm running a dedicated file server that houses over 2000 mp3s and oggs (ripped from my OWN cds or downloaded free from legal sources, RIAA, so go find someone's grandma or pre-teen daughter to sue) on a private LAN that feeds five desktop machines, one of which doubles as a stereo component in my living room. What do you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

would something like this work for you?

http://mpsharp.com/

edit: nevermind. i just read more and it looks like some kind of hardware jukebox.... duh. my bad.

edit2: i've seen something about musicmatch making a linux port that's beta. it says it's available for download, but i couldn't find it. i saw from some googling that musicmatch should work in wine.

You can get Music Match Jukebox 1.43 from www.tucows.com