Alright, I just got a new Dell Optiplex 745. 2GB RAM, 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo, 80GB HD...
I want to turn it into a server. Currently I have Red Hat, Fedora, and Ubuntu and possible server Operating System choices.
Basically, I will be just hosting files over the internet (hopefully...), I would like to host DNS for my home network, and set up a BitTorrent (P2P) gateway.
Who can help me jump start what I need to do to get going? What is the first step I should take?
I would recommend you Ubuntu Server (not the desktop version, but the server version).
You'll need a public IP address, either fixed (very good) or dynamic (not so good).
You need two public fixed IP addresses to host a DNS service. You can also use a free DNS service such as ZoneEdit.
To host DNS for your home network... what do you mean?
If you use Apache to host the files, it puts them into /var/www. I would suggest using something such as ProFTPd to update those files, just add some user and make it's home directory be /var/www 
The first step you should take is install either of the distros you mention, into the server, and setup an account in a DNS service so that you don't have to tell people your IP address each time you want them to access your server.
Whatever question you have, don't doubt to ask.
Yes, I was planning on using Ubuntu, as it is my more familiar choice. I am really good in Linux, so I'm pretty sure that once I get going I probably (hopefully) wont have too many hiccups.
Public IP address; got one, it's dynamic. Although, the server will be running under my network, so it will get a 192.168.x.x address from my routers and switches. All my computers are set to have their own IP address assigned to them (Static IP). For instance, my Inspiron will always have the local IP address of 192.168.1.254, my MBP will always have 192.168.1.250, and my PowerBook G4 will always have 192.168.1.222.
DNS for my network.....well let's use an example:
On my workstation computers, I use synergy to use one mouse and keyboard to share between the keyboard, as dual monitors usually work. So; to start synergy, I issue the command:
/Users/Peter/synergy-1.3.1/synergyc -f 192.168.1.254
What I would like to is to, instead of typing out the lengthy 192.168.1.254, I want to just have it as "inspiron@local" , "inspiron.local" or whatever DNS is capable of assigning it, or whatever...:slant:
On the external side, things I would want to access over the internet, or host over the internet, is maybe a website (no paying $$$ for hosting), TeamSpeak (BHD and COD4 squads...) ... ... ...
Soo, that's to start...
Oh, that's very easy as far as I know...
First: I assume all machines are behind a router.
So, setup the Ubuntu Server to use the router DNS, but setup the machines to use the Ubuntu Server as DNS 
Then, install a DNS proxy in the Ubuntu Server. My favourite one is dnsmasq, as it is easy to setup.
Then, add all your PCs into /etc/hosts of Ubuntu Server.
So, this should be happening then:
You try, for eg., to ping inspiron from powerbook:
powerbook, as all the other machines, has 192.168.1.x as DNS server (the Ubuntu Server).
So it asks the server which IP is "inspiron". It does this as it would do for "www.aqua-soft.org", "www.google.com", etc... it's just another host name.
The server first (or so) searchs the entry in /etc/hosts, and finds inspiron is 192.168.1.254, and returns that to powerbook.
Oh oh oh I'm looking dnsmasq.conf, and it has an option (which can be repeated I think for each host) of the form:
address=/inspiron/192.168.1.254
So no need to put them in /etc/hosts (however I would recomend putting them in /etc/hosts instead so you can also ping them/use their names from the Ubuntu Server itself).
Hope this helps.
First: I assume all machines are behind a router.
That is correct .
So, setup the Ubuntu Server to use the router DNS, but setup the machines to use the Ubuntu Server as DNS
I think I know what that means....connect to the router only with the server and then have all machines connect to the server...?
Then, install a DNS proxy in the Ubuntu Server. My favourite one is dnsmasq, as it is easy to setup.Then, add all your PCs into /etc/hosts of Ubuntu Server.
So, this should be happening then:
You try, for eg., to ping inspiron from powerbook:
powerbook, as all the other machines, has 192.168.1.x as DNS server (the Ubuntu Server).
So it asks the server which IP is "inspiron". It does this as it would do for "www.aqua-soft.org", "www.google.com", etc... it's just another host name.
The server first (or so) searchs the entry in /etc/hosts, and finds inspiron is 192.168.1.254, and returns that to powerbook.
Oh oh oh I'm looking dnsmasq.conf, and it has an option (which can be repeated I think for each host) of the form:
address=/inspiron/192.168.1.254
So no need to put them in /etc/hosts (however I would recomend putting them in /etc/hosts instead so you can also ping them/use their names from the Ubuntu Server itself).
Hope this helps.
I kinda sorta got it....
I think I know what that means....connect to the router only with the server and then have all machines connect to the server...?
That's not necesary at all, you can connect all machines to the router, let them access Internet through the router itself, but resolve DNS names through the server instead.
So the configuration would look something like this, for each machine:
IP: 192.168.1.254 (for eg.)
Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (the router)
DNS: 192.168.1.9 (for eg.... this is the Ubuntu Server)
The server itself would have the router as DNS (or whatever the router in turn has as DNS, this depends on the router but any decent router should be able to provide DNS proxying itself).
You'll want to use this once everything else has been set up; it'll address the dynamic IP address issue.
http://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/
-NC
IP: 192.168.1.254 (for eg.)Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (the router)
DNS: 192.168.1.9 (for eg.... this is the Ubuntu Server)
Ah, I get that part 
{{EDIT}}
Alright, so I'm getting 2 more of the same model machines. The Optiplex 745s. I am going to share all 3 as I do now with one mouse and keyboard, and share one monitor between the total of 3 Optiplexes. .
My workstation will be sweeeeeeeeeeet!
Happy 1 day belated birthday to me
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