Best Linux distro..

[SgtM]

So I want to start playing around with Linux. My hosting server runs Red Hat and cPanel, but there's no way I'm going to mess around with a production server. I downloaded Fedora 6 and Ubuntu. Basically I want to install a LAMP server (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) and play around on my home network. Which distro would you guys recommend for that?

edit:
I should add that my hosting server was set up by the folks where it's leased from. They just turned it over to me all ready to go live.

[.Maleficus.]

I don't have any idea about LAMP servers, but Ubuntu is nice, and so is Fedora. I guess either one you choose will be fine.

Other nice distros: SUSE, Mandriva, Gentoo.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

FreeBSD is da shiznit lolz but not fer ppl new to unix based distros and ppl who dont like non-graphical interfaces lolz
mind u u can just install fluxbox lolz

[nil8]

If you're interested in running a server, fedora is your best bet.

[SgtM]

Thanks for the info guys. +rep for all of you.

[m4gnum]

There is a version of Ubuntu server (it's what I'm running on the Tardis) which you can install off the Live CD and that will give you LAMP in under 1/2 hour. It's all command line stuff, although you can install the desktop if you like.

Our work servers are Gentoo, but I can't recommend you install that (I've tried twice now, and spent about 2 days on it).

[SgtM]

Ok.. so I got Fedora 6 running. I've been playing with it quite a bit, and can't seem to figure out why I can't get httpd to start. It just say failed when I type in service httpd start

I've searched all over the net, but everything seems like greek to me when it comes to Linux. That's why I want to play around with a test box. 1 Googolplex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googolplex) of rep to anyone who can give me an explanation in English on how to correct this. Or what troubleshooting steps I should take from here.

Thanks!

[nil8]

Are you starting httpd on startup or manually?
try httpd -v
It might tell you an error code or a small reason why it's not starting. It also might not tell you anything. Worth a shot.

It would really help to elaborate. Tell us what you're doing when you try to start httpd and get the error.

[SgtM]

Are you starting httpd on startup or manually?
try httpd -v
It might tell you an error code or a small reason why it's not starting. It also might not tell you anything. Worth a shot.

It would really help to elaborate. Tell us what you're doing when you try to start httpd and get the error.

Trying to load it at start up. When that fails, I try manually. Basically, when I type in service httpd start (and start -v) I just get a message saying it failed. No error messages, nothing in /var/log/httpd /var/log/apache2/ doesn't even exit.

[nil8]

How strange. I'm assuming you installed lamp or did you just install apache? That might be one for the apache forums, if it's not creating an entry in the error log.

[OvRiDe]

I have been messing around with Linux for about 10 years now. I fluttered about for a while with different Distros and such, but I never really put it to use much, mainly because I didn't really understand what was going on in the background that much. I had difficulty troubleshooting issues etc, etc. Then I came across Gentoo (http://www.gentoo.org/) Linux. The company I work for was contracted to host the VA Linux Helpdesk. Since I was pretty good friends with the guys on the desk, it was like I had my own personal helpdesk. :) One of them introduced me to Gentoo. Now I am not saying that the best distro is Gentoo by any means. It definately has some strong points, but since everything is compiled from source its not good for tight deadlines unless you have a fairly fast CPU and RAM. What IMO it did do, was teach me more about how the OS is put together. The installation process is, for all practical purposes, manual. The website had great step by step instructions on the installation process, with explanations of what you were doing. A Stage 1 install is pretty rough so I would start out with a Stage 3 (http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-x86-quickinstall.xml) install, but if your looking for a learning experience and do not have a deadline, I highly recommend giving it a shot. It really did wonders for me. I'm am still by no means a linux guru or anything, but I admin 2 webhosting boxes, in datacenters, remotely and have introduced 4 full production linux servers in our Enterprise (5500 users) that I manage on a daily basis, and so far (knock on wood :) ) I haven't come across a situation that I haven't been able to handle. Just my 2cents, hope it helps.