I am trying to figgure out what software I need to set up a home server. I am going to try linux first if I can't hang with it Ill go to W2k. So I have a few questons.. 1. A lot of the online help I read deals with how to set up Red Hat 9.0 why is this? Was RH9 the last release befour the Fendora project, Or is there some other reson 9.0 is prefered? 2. For a web server does it matter if I get the download verson like pink tie @ cheepbytes or should I try to get an offical reliese. (Of 9.0) 3. I need a controll pannell that will handle up to 5 vertural domains with remote user access. cpannell costs 1,500 is there a free or less cost alternative? Thanks in advance for your help. -Mark

1: Fedora Project is the latest, but personally I prefer RH9 since I just want a webserver. Not sure why everyone prefer's RH9 but maybe stability might be a factor. :-/ 2. For a webserver you can download the ISO files. Apache 2.0.40 (known as httpd) and httpd-devel are includeded with the ussual PHP/Perl/MySQL. If you want to add more stuff such as FPSE 2002 and tomcat then you have it add it yourself. Either way, you can use up2date (in GNOME) to update your RH9 packages to the latest releases. 3. With Remote use access, if you mean for webservers then just use FPSE 2002 for frontpage users. I also have FTP setup on my machine so those who dont use frontpage can upload their files using FTP. Ben, Pentium 4 1.7GHz, 256 Cache 512 DDR RAM PC2700 ATI Radeon 9200SE 128 DDR RAM Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM

Thank you very much for the information! Your response is much neede and very helpfull. I have ordered my server and red hat 9.0 oem off e-bay tonight I had no idea that PHP/Perl/MySQL were included. Saves me time and $$$ Thanks again. Mark

hehe no problem. you could download them all for free anyways. One thing: Don't forget to use up2date when you first run RH9 in graphical mode to update the packages to the latest versions. Eg Apache 2.0.40 is shipped with RH9 but the latest is 2.0.49 etc.=) If you want a mail server as well, then sendmail is also included for RH9. Ben, Pentium 4 1.7GHz, 256 Cache 512 DDR RAM PC2700 ATI Radeon 9200SE 128 DDR RAM Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM