Best Linux distro for JBoss/Samba?

[davout]

I've just attended a Linux intro course and now want to setup Linux on a
spare PC as part of my home LAN. The latter is an Intel P3 600mhz with 512MB
RAM and 2 x 80GB hard drives.

My initial uses for Linux are....
* Have Linux available to cement acquired Linux skills
* Install JBoss - to run test harness on Java JBoss apps
* Install Samba - as a file server for daily workstation backups

With so many different Linux distros available, it's difficultfor a beginner
to know which one to choose.

Any suggestions?

[dkeav]

you might check the giant "Which distro" thread

http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=139534

i would probably suggest staying away from those icky rpm based distros and go with something like debian or ubuntu (preference being on the former) but only you can decide what distro is right for you, just remember they are all basically the exact same thing so just pick one of the major ones and go for it

[Hayl]

try a few and choose for yourself. don't base you decision on what software you will run since all o them either come with
(the standard stuff) or can run any of it.
if it is just going to be a server box, then consider a distribution that doesn't install X by default.

[dr_te_z]

JBoss? Go for a distro with NTPL threads. JBoss/java do a lot of threading. Installing java on a debian machine is a bit blasmefobic (he look, I just invented a new english word:) ), and debian has no NTPL.
Also, running JBoss/java: spend your money on RAM. Not only a lot of Mb's but also fast. That't your bottleneck.

Ergo: the lastest slackware 10.2