Setting up mixed WindowsXP/Linux network

[Glen MacDonald]

I'm new to Linux - just got the bug. I have only a Windows XP professional PC at the moment, and I don't want to touch it. My main reason for getting a bit exited about Linux is reading about the server software available for free, along with my desire to eventually set up an ecommerce web site.
I'd like to get a couple more PC's and install the following:
Apache, Tomcat, DNS, Samba, MySQL. I'd like some advice on what should go with what on each machine. Separation of Web server from machine holding data (MySQL) is all I can come up with for starters. I'd like to be able to do cross-backups (Windows box data backed up to a Linux box, Linux box data backed up to other Linux box, etc.). Should DNS be on same box as Apache, or on same box as MySQL, or ?? I've read that DNS is a major target for hackers. Where should Samba go?
A more general question: I see on Red Hat site and Suse site that you can get 'enterprise' versions of Linux distributions. Can you not start with any distribution and download all the server software that is included with the 'enterprise' version? Apart from not having to configure everything yourself and support, what do you get by paying for the 'enterprise' version? Advice? Comments?

[mairving]

Pretty ambitious plans there. First of all welcome to PCMech. I don't know if I can answer all of your questions but I will try to answer most.

They say the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Pretty good advice too with this project. I would first start out with building a Linux box. Something to keep in mind is that RedHat does not equal Linux. RedHat and SUSE are not the best options right now. I would consider Slackware, Debian or maybe Mandrake. If this is to be used as a server, you don't need any kind of GUI (Window Manager) as you can do everything at the command line. Slack and Debian kind of force you that way anyway. I would first install your Linux server behind a firewall. That way you don't have to worry about security as much starting off. Install Apache, PHP, MySQL and Samba. Learn your way around the shell. Learn how to compile and configure programs. Learn about chmod, chown, chgrp and other security options. Learn how to connect to your Linux machine via Samba from the XP machine. I wouldn't worry about DNS or Tomcat until maybe later. You won't really learn DNS that much on 2 machines. DNS can be secured using chroot where it is in a kind of jail. As a general rule, you don't want Samba on any machine that is exposed to the Internet (has an external connection). Again you just have to take it one step at a time.

[mairving]

Mod, you may look into why Glen has zero posts. Was this moved from General Discussion maybe?

[Glen MacDonald]

Thanks for the advice, mairving.