I'm in a Networking I class and it's the first year we've had the class and we are wanting to work on Linux servers without using our schools servers so we need a distro that can help teach us how to use Linux, I use Linux regularly, but only Ubuntu and Fedora and I don't deal with servers. Preferably something to make the transition to Linux from Server 2003 easier since there is a Windows die hard, two people who only use Windows for gaming and Macs for other tasks, and one person who rarely uses a computer when he doesn't have to, and me who is somehow dubbed the Linux Geek even though I barely know anything in terminal that isn't in command console.

Try CentOS 5.2. That is the community version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. They keep it in sync to changes in RHEL within 72 hours (generally less). It is in wide use in commercial operations. I used to write risk analysis software for the options trading industry in Chicago and the company I worked for is using CentOS for their options quoting and trading servers. These are very much in the heart of the network, co-located at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and provide electronic quoting and trading services to most of the market makers and traders in the exchange. IE: if you ever trade options, you probably get your quotes and trades done via CentOS systems.

[quote=Rubberman]Try CentOS 5.2. That is the community version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. They keep it in sync to changes in RHEL within 72 hours (generally less). It is in wide use in commercial operations. I used to write risk analysis software for the options trading industry in Chicago and the company I worked for is using CentOS for their options quoting and trading servers. These are very much in the heart of the network, co-located at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and provide electronic quoting and trading services to most of the market makers and traders in the exchange. IE: if you ever trade options, you probably get your quotes and trades done via CentOS systems.[/quote] FWIW, I also use CentOS for my IT consulting business. It has been rock-solid and reliable.

CENT was recommended at my local LUG (SILUG) too, guess I'll pass it on to the school Tech Admin if we get to it anytime soon (we have been working on a server issue since we went back to school last Monday that got worse over the weekend).