General Newbie questions

Hi Guys, I want to setup a Linux web server box

Currently I am running WinXP,MySQL,Apache,Perl and host a few websites
for friends, I know I can do better with Linux.. so my dumb 2
questions are

What distro should I use? Is there one that is already setup? I would
like a distro where I can setup and easily update the software/os and
dabble with the Apache config file without worrying about settings of
the main distro?

Where is the 'best' place to go for help? I have used Linux years ago
and I can get a bit overwhelmed with some of the configuration files

I have read reviews on different distros, but cannot choose as I do
not have enough experience, the closest I got to using Linux was
installing Mandrake and after reading some help files I managed to get
it installed!

Am I a lost cause?

Thanks for any help

Daz

(E-Mail Removed) (Daz) writes:

> Hi Guys, I want to setup a Linux web server box
>
> Currently I am running WinXP,MySQL,Apache,Perl and host a few websites
> for friends, I know I can do better with Linux.. so my dumb 2
> questions are
>
> What distro should I use? Is there one that is already setup? I would
> like a distro where I can setup and easily update the software/os and
> dabble with the Apache config file without worrying about settings of
> the main distro?
I'm going to recommend Debian. You obviously have some computer experience,
so Debian shouldn't be too hard. Apt makes configuration pretty easy,
and the defaults are usually just fine.

> Where is the 'best' place to go for help? I have used Linux years ago
> and I can get a bit overwhelmed with some of the configuration files
Here is a good place, you may also want to try the #linux channel on
IRC servers such as irc.freenode.net. Don't forget Google, and Debian
is pretty good about including docs for everything.

> I have read reviews on different distros, but cannot choose as I do
> not have enough experience, the closest I got to using Linux was
> installing Mandrake and after reading some help files I managed to get
> it installed!
>
> Am I a lost cause?
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> Daz
Good Luck!

Digi
--
I've Been Moved!

Daz wrote:

> Hi Guys, I want to setup a Linux web server box
>
> Currently I am running WinXP,MySQL,Apache,Perl and host a few websites
> for friends, I know I can do better with Linux.. so my dumb 2
> questions are
>
> What distro should I use? Is there one that is already setup? I would
> like a distro where I can setup and easily update the software/os and
> dabble with the Apache config file without worrying about settings of
> the main distro?
>
> Where is the 'best' place to go for help? I have used Linux years ago
> and I can get a bit overwhelmed with some of the configuration files
>
> I have read reviews on different distros, but cannot choose as I do
> not have enough experience, the closest I got to using Linux was
> installing Mandrake and after reading some help files I managed to get
> it installed!
>
> Am I a lost cause?
>
> Thanks for any help
>
> Daz

Try the Mepis LiveCD distro, it has MySQL, Apache, PHP, Perl working
out of the box. It boots up from CD and automatically configures
itself after booting without having to install.
Install is easy - just run QtParted, to create partition, and then
use the installer.
Many other live CDs from link below. All free. Try also Knoppix.
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php