Newbie server

Hi everyone,
Im looking for some advice as I am about to set up my own home network
server,
I have two XP machines with one used as file share and internet share. I now
have a third machine which i want to use as a file server and internet
share, i have never set up a server before and would prefer to not use
windows on it. I had a quick go at installing Debian before and failed badly
so i would like some advice of a easy to install and set up and run server
dist. Any recommendations?

pc will be a PIII 500 with 256Mb memory 4Gb hd and 60gb file share drive
currently with data on NTFS.

TIA
J

debian is a little bit to hard for newbies.
Use Knoppix ( www.knoppix.org ) it based on debian !
it is debian base live cd-linux with a very nice hardwaredetection and
preconfiguration. It is possible to turn the live-cd int a regular
installation by starting the script knxhd-install.
the precompiled kernel contains already the linux firewall and routing
options.

Just test it )

"Dennis Sen-ftl-eben" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bv8aaq$nc3$04$(E-Mail Removed)...
> debian is a little bit to hard for newbies.
> Use Knoppix ( www.knoppix.org ) it based on debian !
> it is debian base live cd-linux with a very nice hardwaredetection and
> preconfiguration. It is possible to turn the live-cd int a regular
> installation by starting the script knxhd-install.
> the precompiled kernel contains already the linux firewall and routing
> options.
Thanks for the advice, yes Debian was a bit hard to figure out the
installation just and i think i needed alot more time to install that but
with kids its not easy to find.
Will try knoppix with regulare installation.

Thanks alot