Reccomendations for Linux Based Server?

[chojin]

How about some reccomendations on a quick easy and thorough Linux server/ftp distribution that would work on old machines like a p2 or so?

I have a few in my garage/shop that I have been wanting to to this on but dont know what is out there for Linux as I am a windows guy.

AKA: My old hardware is useless as far as windows is concerned. :-(

The reccomendations need to be something that can be done by someone who doesn't want to learn Linux and can administer the box from a web browser.

On a side note:

I think the potential for modding an old PC and using it for a file sever is not done as much lately.

I am completely new to modding and I usually just browse the forum and watch everyone else mod in amazement.

But, I would be much more likely to mod an old PC than to go out and purchase all new hardware, spend a bunch of money and possibly mess something up.

So, let's start a new trend in modding on this site and get some servers built from that old hardware and make the old, new again. :-)

[Greeny]

Most distro's have easily activated and managed ftp demons, for example default installation of fedora core includes vsftpd which simply needs activated at startup and ftp accounts are simply user accounts on the local machine.

I don't know off the top of my head of any distro's which are designed for ftp and offer web based management though, someone else might do though.

You could knock up some php and a few bash scripts though, given long enough to learn the necessary skills. lol.

[kurabii]

SuSE!
i absolutely love it
i run 2 linux servers.
SLES9.0 <--- got from my dad and a SuSEx64 10.0 box.

its perfect for servers www.suse.com
reguards.
ESA

[chojin]

What I am meaning is something that is an ISO that you burn off, boot to and answer some key questions and you have a server.
The one that I can remember from the past is E-Smith.
http://contribs.org

Here is the overview of features from the site:
SME Server features include:

Sharing of a single Internet connection between multiple computers
A network firewall to protect against Internet intruders
A robust email server, which includes virus and spam filtering and webmail
File and print sharing
Web application server, including support for MySQL, Perl and PHP
Secure remote access
Supported languages: Deutsch, English, Español, Français and Italiano, with more on the way
Complete binary compatibility with the leading Linux server distribution
and much more
all managed through an intuitive web interfaceWith this, you pop in a CD, answer some questions and you get a full server build with OS and supporting applications.