Advice on spefic configuration needed!

[gandimere]

Hello:
Just joined the forum today out of sheer confusion on what to do
I am a complete neophyte when it comes to Linux and it's multitude of
os platforms and packages.

I have a box system I want to make into a web server,all of its hardware is listed below

Due to the fact that I do not know what is the most ideal setup for my purpose and hardware I would like suggestions as to what is the
MOST USER FRIENDLY and SECURE options
using FREE/open source software(s) (for example best Linux anything OS /web server software,email,chat,forums,classifieds,e-commerce etc.)
that will give the best PERFORMANCE taking into consideration my hardware limitations.
I would like to use a gui interface but if my system prohibits this I will learn cli

If possible,this web server will be used initially for a small community web site with some type of chat,and forums to be expanded to a larger website encompassing this as well as web sales

DSL modem being used is an PARADYNE 6381-A3-200 USING A STATIC IP

This server will be run behind a belkin f5d5230 4 port router

CPU: pentium 3 eb 1ghz (coppermine)

MOTHERBOARD: Intel desktop , Intel easton d815eea w/ built in Intel ac97 audio. MOTHERBOARD CHIPSET= i815e (solano)
memory: 512 mb pc 133
VIDEO CARD: 3dfx voodo 3 16mb agp
HARD DRIVE: maxtor 2b020h1 20 gb 2mb buffer
CDROM DRIVE: LTN526 52x
NIC: realtek RTL8139

ANY THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

Thank you for your valued consideration
Leslie Smith

[netstrider]

Hi there gandimere, welcome to the forums!

Your computer specs are fairly good and you should be able to run any modern distribution without hassles and with full on GUI. However for a web server you wouldn't require all that. An easy yet efficient way to handling what you are trying to do is to get Debian (specifically the netinstall version). It's a 180mb disk which only installs the basic kernel and some basic things. Then you're with CLI, this will allow you to install the apache web server and php etc, (all other things you'd need) directly from the web. It's also faster since you install ONLY what YOU want and it's not bundled with all other little things. Then you can install a GUI too...if you just want a simple GUI there's a whole lot to choose from such as ICEWM, Fluxbox etc. or for a desktop environment XFCE is the lightweight one..then Gnome and KDE.

Good luck