> The server edition of Ubuntu is great, but lacking in interface.
> It is strictly command line. You can install a GUI but that kind
> of defeats the minimalist approach to running a server, that is,
> having maximum avail. RAM and disk space for the server software
> to run.

Exactly what I'd expect.

> There is also a different kernel package installed with server.

How so? Both the i386 and amd64 editions are labelled 8.04.1, same
as the present desktop editions. I'm surprised the amd64 version is
smaller, 569MB, vs. the i386 version, 571MB. Regardless, the server
edition is supported to 2013

> You may want to familiarize yourself with the apt-get and apt-cache
> commands, as well as aptitude.

The Server edition supports apt, aptitude and dpkg.

> Then I'd get used to using nano as it will
> be the most basic but easiest to use command line text editor.

Nah, I need capability, so emacs is the first thing installed if
it's not already there. I've been using emacs for 30+ years now.
You can see a scanned copy of one emacs manual RMS himself handed
me at Stanford in 1980 here:

<thadlabs.com/FILES/Emacs-150_1980.09.05.pdf>

> What services are you planning on running?

asterisk, qmail, apache, and possibly OCFS, GFS, DRDB, among others.

> Also you can run a server platform even from Desktop edition,
> nothing says you can't, I did for years.

Same as the first Sun workstation I used in 1982. You can see a
short blurb about it here:

<http://thadlabs.com/FILES/HPCQ_SUN.pdf>

I still have three SUN-3/60, three AT&T 3B1, four SPARCstation20,
five SPARCstation10, three SUN IPX, and other systems here besides
all my Linux boxes. One modern system triple boots into Solaris 10u5,
Fedora 9, and Vista SP1.

Yesterday I ordered another system from Fry's that'll be the one to
run the Ubuntu Server edition: Intel dual core, 4GB RAM, 250GB HD,
and I'm picking up two additional 500GB SATA drives for it in about an
hour at a local Fry's. Total cost is less than US$500.

> [...]
> Also, if you plan to administer the server remotely, remember,
> never use telnet, only ssh.

Heh, I've been setting-up data centers since the 1960s, used the
ARPANET since it began, and I was also the last IT person at a
company some of you may recognize, Linuxcare (aka Levanta).

The fact Sun has teamed with Canonical is of great interest to me.

This quote:

" Sun is committed to providing customers a choice of operating
" systems on our x64 servers. Sun has worked closely with Canonical
" since early 2006 and we continue to see growing interest in Ubuntu
" on Sun platforms. -- Lisa Sieker,
" Vice President of Systems Marketing, Sun Microsystems

appears in the Ubuntu Server Brochure which can be seen here:

<www.ubuntu.com/.../...ServerBrochure804LTS.pdf>