I already have 2 dedicated servers, I run windows on then and I connect via windows own Remote Desktop. I'm gonna buy a new server now, just a simple file server, and it costs pretty much more to get windows on it than Debian or CentOS. There are tons of guides on the net about installing apache, and as it's only going to be a file server, I don't need PHP, MySQL or any of that, so I thought that shouldn't be any problems. But my question is just how I will connect to a server like this. Can I use a program like Remote Desktop, or do I have to do it in one of those "text clients" like Putty or whatever it's called? Edit: What is the most simple OS when I should just install apache and use it as a file server, Debian or CentOS? I can choose to get an a Server Control Panel, like cpanel, but it costs pretty much extra.
You use Putty, SecureCRT or any other SSH client to connect to the server. Personal preference for me is CentOS, but there'll be just as many people who say Debian.
I prefer CentOS, it is identical to RedHat, just naming. Putty is free but SecureCRT is a little bit nicer for shell access. You can setup an X server and then VNC to the box if you want a GUI interface. Shell is so much faster though
Should have said before but if you really really can't live without a graphical interface then download the client from http://www.nomachine.com/download.php and under CentOS5 just enter yum install nx freenx see http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/FreeNX That will then give you a secure connection to the server that is faster than VNC or I've always found it to be. However I'd stick with SSH.
i prefer CentOS either... in every aspect i would still prefer using ssh... and i believe apache installed by default.. just type httpd will start it..
my CentOS Dedi has cPanel.. so between cPanel and SFTP w/a pretty GUI client, I hardly ever have to use ssh/Putty.. i live in a 'drag 'n drop' and double-click world..