Best Linux Distro To Create Home Server (For SSH Proxy)?

Question

The question pretty much says it all. I'm looking for any FREE linux distro that would be the best for use as my home server. Please list which one, why, and what models it would be typically good for. The computer it will be installed on is a 2003 desktop computer. More specs cannot be provided at the time.

The one who properly states the pros and cons, as well as gives his own personal opinion will be given the best answer.

-Thanks

Answer 1

A few days ago I got a HP n6395 (laptop from 2001). It has a Pentium III, 256MB of RAM, 30GB HDD and half of the monitor is dead. I decided to use it as a server (what else?).



The distro? Xubuntu. It is perfect because its system requirements are very low which means it will run smoothly on a lower-end computer and not hog too much of the system's power on a stronger machine.



Unlike ubuntu, it does not have gnome display manager but Xfce. This is a disadvantage if you would like to use it with vnc (virtual network computing). But you can overcome this problem just by downloading the gnome display manager by typing sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop and change session to gnome when you login. VNC is very useful for connecting to the computer and making changes using the graphical user interface.



After installing Apache2 (sudo apt-get install apache2) and php (sudo apt-get install php5) the site worked perfectly. Xubuntu is a perfect solution because it is easy to use compared to other OSs, fast and safe thanks to the security updates.



Email me if you have questions. I am not an expert but I can help.

Answer 2

I dont have this kind of experiance but a friend at a lug meeting stated a preferance to fedora core for there servers. I like ubuntu based distros for my home boxes but he made it sound as if it wasnt quite up to the task of servers

Answer 3

for a server I would try nbuntu (or what ever the network version is called), Hardened Gentoo is good, CentOS is Good, Debian is Good