A Linux newbee

Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!

"Jim Charier" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
> have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
> from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
> Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
> as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
> web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
> spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
> inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!

Debian should fit your needs and your budget.

JW

"Jim Charier" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
> have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
> from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
> Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
> as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
> web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
> spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
> inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!

Depending on the "age" of the box you want to install Linux on and if you
have access to a CDRW, you could download (for free) just about any version
of Linux you want. As a first timer, I would suggest you try one of the Red
Hat versions or Mandrake. If you are wanting to be able to have "Customer
Support", then you would have to purchase one of the above.

Good Luck

Al


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On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 13:14:26 -0800, Jim Charier wrote:

> Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
> have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
> from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
> Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
> as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
> web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
> spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
> inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!

I'd recommend Red Hat or Mandrake. If you have access to a decent
internet connection and a CD burner, you can download just about any
distribution and make your own CDs. Unlike Windows, this is perfectly
legal and even encouraged. If you have reasonably recent hardware (2
years old or less), then Red Hat's current version will work just fine.

Good Luck!
Mitty

(E-Mail Removed) (Jim Charier) wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed). com>...
> Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
> have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
> from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
> Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
> as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
> web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
> spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
> inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!

Well thanks everyone for your input, I have a system I am going to use
and its only about 9 months old so I think the Redhat 9.0 will work ok
I have started downloading the iso images from their site, I actually
have Mandrake 8.2, and may look into Debian. I figure it can't hurt to
tinker will different versions and see whats out there. A final
question, is there anything else I should grad for add on software
like Apache(or is that already a component of most Linux versions)?
Thanks again I REALLY appreciate all the info!!

"Jim Charier" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> (E-Mail Removed) (Jim Charier) wrote in message
news:<(E-Mail Removed). com>...
> > Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
> > have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
> > from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
> > Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
> > as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
> > web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
> > spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
> > inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!
>
> Well thanks everyone for your input, I have a system I am going to use
> and its only about 9 months old so I think the Redhat 9.0 will work ok
> I have started downloading the iso images from their site, I actually
> have Mandrake 8.2, and may look into Debian. I figure it can't hurt to
> tinker will different versions and see whats out there. A final
> question, is there anything else I should grad for add on software
> like Apache(or is that already a component of most Linux versions)?
> Thanks again I REALLY appreciate all the info!!

I used to use redhat, but recently tried out mandrake 9, and I am very
impressed with it. It supports all of my hardware including my speedtouch
modem, which redhat didnt (without LOTS of tweaking).
Redhat comes with an rpmd version of apache and other common softwares. I
would advise against using these. They make it very easy to get running but
are generally old versions, or in the case of some (tcpdump for one)
slightly different from the standard which can cause problems.
Instead, I would download the latest versions (especially apache since it
can help security) and install those. Make sure to read the readme files,
but most apps can be installed with
../configure
make
make install

HTH
Allan

"Mitty" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>...
> On Mon, 03 Nov 2003 13:14:26 -0800, Jim Charier wrote:
>
> > Hi folks, I have a simple question(at least I think it's simple). I
> > have been a Windows zombie for sometime now but I want to break away
> > from it and do some work with Linux, in particular I want to set up a
> > Linux web server, basic web server at first but would like to expand
> > as I learn. My question is this, whats the best Linux for setting up a
> > web server, with one thing in mind, cost.... I dont have the money to
> > spend on an enterprise server version from Redhat or Suse so I need an
> > inexpensive solution. What would be my choices? Thanks in advance!
>
> I'd recommend Red Hat or Mandrake. If you have access to a decent
> internet connection and a CD burner, you can download just about any
> distribution and make your own CDs. Unlike Windows, this is perfectly
> legal and even encouraged. If you have reasonably recent hardware (2
> years old or less), then Red Hat's current version will work just fine.
>
> Good Luck!
> Mitty

Unfortunately, with Red Hat, copying will no longer be "legal and even
encouraged." Red Hat is discontinuing their free distribution, and
will now charge a minimum of $179 per workstation and up to many
thousands for servers, with install on only one computer allowed.

On 4 Nov 2003 08:15:38 -0800,
Tom Hansen <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Unfortunately, with Red Hat, copying will no longer be "legal and even
> encouraged." Red Hat is discontinuing their free distribution, and
> will now charge a minimum of $179 per workstation and up to many
> thousands for servers, with install on only one computer allowed.

My understanding is Red Hat wants to appear focused on the High End
market where people are willing to pay for support. They will still be
helping out with fedora.redhat.com whose objectives sound suspiciously
like Debian.

So while it appears there won't be a RH 10.0, RH 7.x, 8.x, 9.x aren't
going to disappear. I don't believe there was any mention of removing
currently available versions at this point, and I suspect they will be
available for a while. RH will however stop supporting them, at least
directly.

Michael C.
--
(E-Mail Removed) http://mcsuper5.freeshell.org/
Registered Linux User #303915 http://counter.li.org/