Linux - Need some info/advice

i want to install Linux on one of my boxes, but I'm not sure which version to use. I mainly want it just so I can learn how to use it and setup web/ftp servers and the like. I'm considering either Redhat or SuSE. Which is easier to learn and mess around with? Also, what are i386 and SPARC? Any good links to installing and configuring Linux would be appreciated.

thanks

redhat if you're a total newb. i have no idea what suse is but i hear redhat comes presetup with a lot of stuff.

personally, i'm gonna stick with what i know/started with: slackware

I installed Redhat8 for the first time a few days ago. It's pretty cool. I have no use for linux other than fooling around with it but it's cool. :)

what filesystem should i use to format my hdd before i install linux (or is that necessary at all)? Is FAT32 ok or should I use some other one?

Are you installing onto a new hard drive?

If so, don't format it, linux will do it for you during the install (it uses its own filesystem).

If you're installing to a partition (part) of your current drive, what you have to do is unallocate some space on your drive. (Free, unformatted space) You can do this with a program such as Partition Magic. Then during the install you just tell it to use "unallocated space" on the drive.

I did the second approach, as I only have one hard drive. If you need more help just ask. :)

I've installed Mandrake and Redhat and Mandrake was MUCH easier, although I haven't installed the newer versions of Redhat

Originally posted by PowdaHound
I installed Redhat8 for the first time a few days ago. It's pretty cool. I have no use for linux other than fooling around with it but it's cool. :)

same, but i use mandrake 9.0 :>