Which linux distro for router/server on given hardware?

[Skaven]

I've got mostly Winblows machines at home - but I have an old 486 running LRP right now to share our network connection. Works fine - but I want something I can play around with a bit more. Serve some home-pages, e-mail and what not... (using DYNIP or something similar).

Here are the hardware specs:

Intel P-233mmx (512k cache)
98mb ram
Adaptec 2940-UW
Savage4 PCI (32mb)
3DFX Voodoo2 12mb
4gig UW 7200rpm
4gig narrow 7200rpm
12x SCSI cdrom
3com 10/100 PCI
3com 10baseT ISA
Soundblaster 16

I know that the Savage4 and Voodoo2 cards are kind of useless on this machine - but its what I have for it. It would be kinda neat to get some 3D stuff working on it - but not absolutely necessary. I guess I'd like a distro that I can play around with - install different stuff on and get a general feel for linux. I could keep the LRP machine as a router for now and perhaps pass the server ports through... I dunno.

I've had some experience running linux/unix environments - but I am in no way an advnaced user. I guess I'd consider myself just above a beginner. I want something that works and that will get me familiar with the linux world.

What do you guys think?

 

[Sunner]

Not Linux, but if "UNIX like" will satisfy you, have a look at OpenBSD.

 

[n0cmonkey]

That's a monster freaking machine for a router. Just about any of the major distros will work. I recommend avoiding Gentoo unless you have a spare week to compile it.

 

[Skaven]

Is it a bad idea to have the router/firewall and e-mail/http server running off of the same machine?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Skaven
Is it a bad idea to have the router/firewall and e-mail/http server running off of the same machine?

Yes.

 

[Nothinman]

Is it a bad idea to have the router/firewall and e-mail/http server running off of the same machine?

It's considered bad practice, but for home it's done quite often.

I would use Debian since installing extra software is so simple. I still havn't gotten a snmpd and mrtg combo working properly on my OpenBSD firewall, with Debian it was a 10 minute job.