Best OS for Server... Linux? XP? 2000?

[Droppyale]

ok... I decided to run a server from home....

main purpose would be for a small website, image gallery, and possibly an ftp server.

I need either ASP or PHP... for some scripts (gallery, etc) although I use PHP mainly.



I'm crazy when it comes to security... so I need something secure.

OS' I have are as follow:

- Win 2000 advanced Server.

- WinXP Pro

- Linux Redhat 9

- Any other open source OS ( I could Download )





I currently have installed WinXP Pro with IIS, and everything seems to work fine..

but i'm afraid to make it public.

eventhough i have all the lates patches installed. (i'm sure there are many settings I need to change/tweak).

anyways.

System Specs:

- Dell motherboard (not sure the model - came on a dimension 4400)
- P4 1.6ghz
- 40 gig WD 7200 RPM
- 1 gig of PC2100 Ram
- ATI Radeon 7200 64mb
- linksys 10/100 Nic

I'm willing to format and Install whatever OS is best.


Everything is behind a Linksys Router.


Thanks ahead of time

[Droppyale]

*wrong forum*



a mod please move it

Question is how familiarized are you with Linux?

[Droppyale]

Originally posted by GroundZero3
Question is how familiarized are you with Linux?

I'm not an expert.

but i've used it quite a bit.

I have read a couple of books about it.

learned all the basics.


Although i've never used it as my main OS.

[Agent_Embryo]

I vote for Linux. Red Hat, Slackware, Debian. Any of those. XP is not a Server OS, altho it would work. W2K Advanced server is ok, but a bit overkill for your requirements in services.

[DanGrease]

I agree with Agent and I also voted for Linux since it works excellent in servers. And of course you get its security that compared to Microsoft its way better. And you are also familiarized a bit with Linux so I would recommend it, specially RedHat that is IMO excellent, if not the best Linux Distro for servers for people that are beginners in the Linux family. XP is IMO not a good OS for servers, since it wasnts suppose to be one either. You choose, but my opinion is, go with RH. Good Luck Pal

dan

[ArcticFox]

XP is a sucky OS, but that's a different topic.

I vote 2000 with IIS, but if you know Linux go with that.

[Scott Tiger]

I wasn't aware you could run an ASP enabled site in Linux - I thought you had to have IIS for that. I know there are tools out there that will convert ASP to PHP though. Anyone care to set the record straight?

[implexant]

I voted RedHat for it's stability. But in your case, you should go with the Microsoft solution. Doesn't sound like you know a whole lot, so sticking with something easy will pay off in the end. I'm working with a command line only setup of RH 9.0 and love it. It just takes a little more expertise to run linux. I'd say base everything on PHP now, and then move to a linux server later. However, ASP is really cool too. Wouldn't hurt to use MS solutions. Just keep up on the patches

-Chris

[sm8000]

FreeBSD. But you gotta know your Unix, at least a little bit. If you know a little Linux, you've got a start.