First up is the Ubuntu install. I downloaded it and burned it to a CD for an easy install. I installed the server version as it’s the cleanest base install for a media server. You could also use the desktop version if you desired. Keep in mind that the server version has no (and I mean NO) GUI interface for management and setup, so you must be comfortable getting jiggy with command line interfaces and editing text files. Hey it’s Linux, it’s not that bad. Kind of reminds me of the 80′s and my work on HP3000 systems.
Some great places to get more info about the basic Ubuntu setup include: