Best Linux distro for Folding@Home derelict?

[IglooDame]

All,
I'm probably going to be converting several Dell Celeron-500 Optiplex desktop PCs from XP Pro to Linux in order to avoid licensing issues at work while using them for the Folding@Home project. I've got a single nearly-identical machine at home that I'm not using for anything else. These machines have mostly 128MB RAM, embedded NIC/VHA, 4-8GB HDs, and 8x or so CD-ROM drives.

And, I'm largely a Linux newbie, and I'd like the install to be relatively easy, although I wouldn't mind learning Linux basics at the same time.

I've looked at the distros available at http://www.linuxiso.org/ can anyone suggest a particularly good distro/version for this purpose?

I suppose if I was feeling froggy I could put a different distro on each of the seven Celerons, but... Hmmmm...

 

[Aphex_Twin]

You can always go for Mandriva 2006. I never looked back

ftp://gd.tuwien.ac.at/pub/linux/Mandrakelinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/

If it's speed you're looking for, you can set up Slackware or Vector Linux, but you have to get a little down and dirty.

 

[IglooDame]

You can always go for Mandriva 2006. I never looked back

ftp://gd.tuwien.ac.at/pub/linux/Mandrakelinux/official/iso/2006.0/i586/

If it's speed you're looking for, you can set up Slackware or Vector Linux, but you have to get a little down and dirty.

Great, thanks, I'll give it a whirl. What's the difference between the 3-CD version and the "Mini" version?

 

[Padma]

I've never even noticed the "mini" version before. I would guess that it's either a "stripped down" version, or a boot-CD that then lets you install the rest of the system via FTP.

The 3-CD version is the complete Mandriva system (minus proprietary/commercial stuff). It is what I use on a daily basis. (Okay, I D/Led the DVD - but it's the same stuff. )