i am new into linode.

i just want simple server where i can host my website
which have PHP MySql Apache

please help me which Distribution to choose

They can all do that but I suggest ubuntu 10.04 since it's the most popular here.

Ubuntu works great, but not immediately after a new release. It might be just personal opinion on my part, but Ubuntu feels too unstable at this point. (Look at the number of Ubuntu 10.04 related trouble threads on these forums! And they call it an LTS!?)

If you're okay with slightly older versions of Apache and PHP 5.2, try Ubuntu 9.10. Although it's an older version, it keeps getting security updates for a while. You can upgrade to 10.04 after about six months, after the first major update (service pack lol) comes out.

Debian is also fantastic. Ubuntu is based on Debian, so most tutorials about Ubuntu also work with Debian. I've never had any problems with Debian. The current version (5.0) is totally rock solid, and I know that I won't have any problems whatsoever when I upgrade to the next version.

Debian are much more cautious than Ubuntu about what they release -- the best choice for servers. Ubuntu seem to have dropped the ball somewhat with Lucid/10.04 by changing stuff and releasing it without sufficient testing -- driven by their commitment to a regular release cycle rather than 'ship it when it's ready'.

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/ Peter

+1 for Debian.

You want stability for a server and not having to deal with the latest bugs and security fixes as well as new releases to fix untested software.

+1 for Debian

Gonna have to throw in a vote for CentOS.

You've asked a very "religious" question; different people prefer different distributions.

Virtually any linux distribution will be able to run a LAMP stack, but...

Long term stable releases, such as "CentOS" or "Ubuntu LTS" or even "Debian stable" are likely to cause you the least amount of work in the long term... but the downside of these is that they're typically behind the curve in latest software releases, so if you need a specific version of PHP or MySQL then you might find that these distributions are not suitable.

Only you can determine if any of these long term distributions are suitable for your needs, but I'd definitely look at them first.

(CentOS user, here).

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Rgds
Stephen
(Linux user since kernel version 0.11)

I started with Ubuntu 9.04, moved to 9.10 then 10.04 and for some reason things are working fine. I must be doing something wrong.

CentOS, and install virtualmin GPL for a control panel:

http://www.virtualmin.com/download.html#gpl

CentOS is a good choice for a VPS, leave ubuntu to desktop computers.

http://www.linode.com/about/

Distro stats are on this page on the right hand side.

I would say Debian is a safe choice. Personally i decided to go wild and try out Ubuntu. So far so good (knockonwood). Yet to upgrade to 10,04 though.


EDIT:
Since it say i registered today, i feel i should add that i became a Linode user in November '09 and have used Ubuntu since i fired up the VPS.

Can't understand how ubuntu can be chosen to be a server distro.
A site/service that needs the power of a vps instead of a normal host generally is an important site where down time can produce loss of money or some bad else, how can you give a critical job like that to a distro that can make your system down simply by upgrading some packet?

Ubuntu is a great distro for desktop but imho it make no sense to use it for a production vps.
Just my two cent.

I would wonder how many people have a Linode for something other than a production server. I haven't done it yet, but having an account, it would be trivial to set one up for short term use simply for a Linux test box.

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Chris Bryant