Setting Up Ubuntu Server???

I bought a mini itx motherboard and a 1 TB hard drive and I am going to be setting up an always on server for my house. This will be something to store all of our files on. Let's get something clear before I start talking, I know slightly more than nothing about Linux.

Here's what I'd like to do
*Easily share files within the LAN and WAN between Ubuntu, XP, Vista - My wife is a technophobe and won't do this if it is hard for her.

*Backup files from Ubuntu Server to my main XP machine - I perform regular backups to a local hard drive and to Mozy with my XP desktop

*Remotely access the desktop - I don't want to have a dedicated monitor, keyboard, and mouse

*Have a GUI - I'm thinking the newest desktop version of Ubuntu, because a command line only box really scares me.

*Remotely access files through FTP or through webpage (I have a dynamic IP though) - Which is easier, faster, and most secure? I'd like to be able to stream music and movies and access the other files.

Here are some of my concerns
*I have never run anything from the command line, most of the guides that I have been reading say completely different things. I'd rather not get in over my head.

*If I lose power do I lose all my settings or are they saved for when you reboot?

*If I open this up to the internet, how do I make sure I secure the files appropriately?

Do any of you folks know of some good tutorials to do what I am planning? I found this, but I don't know about the accuracy of everything. http://www.instructables.com/id/Set-up-your-very-own-Web-server

I have a copy of XP Pro, Windows Server 2008 Basic, Ubuntu Server, and Ubuntu desktop. What program would you run for your server? I have seen that Windows Home Server is available for purchase, but I'd rather not buy a copy.

 

I'm a mechanical engineer, sorry. You're lucky I haven't inadvertently crashed TW.

 

I'll probably do it in stages. I'll start out by first getting ubuntu up, remote desktop, sharing locally, and backing up to my XP machine. Then I'll worry about the other stuff.

 

alright thanks.

 

thanks phantom. I'm going to check those out. I'll be doing the initial install tonight, then I'll work on the server side of things.

 

from what I'm figuring, it looks like LAMP is only necessary if I want to setup a real webpage. I'm thinking FTP might be much friendlier for someone like myself.

 

linux sucks.

I got the OS installed and then I started going through some of the tutorials and I keep getting errors when I try to run some of the assorted programs. I'll try installing Hardy Heron and hopefully that will turn out better.

 

I was setting up the GUI for the FTP program and it said it could not be run. I googled it and came up with all sorts of results, but nothing specific to my program. I have no idea what I'm doing, so that really doesn't help matters either.

Everything seemed to be working appropriately. I'm running an Intel Atom mobo, which I bet already has the drivers built for it because of all the netbooks running the Atom processor.

I tried out 6.10 and I think that I'll try 6.04. Both 32 bit forms. Also, I refuse to do the server version because I really need a desktop to keep me sane.

One small success I had...I was able to setup remote desktop and tightvnc and access it from my laptop in the house.

 

I got Hardy Heron installed on the mobo, but the NIC wasn't working. I did some research and I saw that someone else installed a PCI NIC and updated and the motherboard network card started working after the install. I hope this works...my attention deficit is starting to kick in on this project.

 

I've got a few NICs laying around. Hopefully one will work.

Those forums are way over my head. I could learn, but it would push out Tacoma knowledge.

 

I need other things beyond the FTP and I'd like something that stays up forever, so I'll keep working on ubuntu for another week or so.

I just joined over at ubuntu forums and listed phantom as a reference, I don't know if that was you or not...

 

I was able to install a different network card and downloaded all the updates. I took out the card and the onboard network card started working!

I got the FTP site installed, but I think I must have done something wrong because I couldn't access it through my LAN.

The most important thing for me right now is setting up a way to access the files on the server from an XP and Vista machine over the LAN. It was to be as easy as clicking a link on the desktop in order to make my wife use it. Anyone have some ideas?