[brlug-general] New LAMP server

[Joe Fruchey]

Wow, I'm excited!

At work, we have this crappy helpdesk web app that hosts
text-file-based help documents. I set up MediaWiki on my hosted server
and whipped up a few articles to pitch the idea to my boss that we
really need something a lot more robust. He loved it!

Problem is, all our servers are pretty much in constant use, so he'd
like to see a dedicated server for this purpose. I've been trying to
get *something* to run Linux at this MS-loving joint for years. Bingo!
LAMP server.

I've been using desktop Linux for a while, but I've never done any server admin.

What type of machine should I use? My choices are pretty much limited
to a Dell Optiplex GX240 with a 2.6GHz P4 (and as much RAM as I want)
or a PowerEdge 1400SC server with dual 1GHz P3s and SCSI drives. The
sole purpose of this machine will be to run MediaWiki, so which one
would perform better? (I'd rather use the GX240)

I know most server installs don't bother with X. But I was thinking...
I have this extra monitor on my desk, and I was thinking about playing
around with Synergy through maybe a dumb terminal... What do you
think?

And the big question... What distro? I'm thinking Ubuntu Server, just
'cause I've heard It's easy to set up a LAMP server on. Opinions
welcome.

Book suggestions welcome as well, as I could probably get work to buy them! =)

Wish me luck!

Joe