new server parts and plans

New computer parts should arrive tomorrow (to replace my dead server) if all goes according to plan. NewEgg says the order has shipped but I don't have a tracking number yet. The parts that I ordered are:



I am looking forward to having a 64 bit machine to play with. I've dealt with them at work but never owned one (well other than the iMac) that I could play with Linux on.

I was running CentOS on the server before but I am considering a switch to Xubuntu this time. This server was the last holdout for RPM based distros in our house, and I am slightly hesitant to let that go, but the *buntu distros are so nice to use now that I am going to finally switch completely.

Configuring the machine will be a bit of a project. It normally functions as our:

• internet gateway/firewall
• VoIP server
• web server
• file server
• DHCP server
• DNS server
  
• sound system/music server for my office
• VPN endpoint
• print server

The only thing I am slightly concerned about is getting the software RAID consisting of a pair of SATA disks recognized and used without losing the data on them. I don't think it will be too hard though. I'll post my progress as I set it up.