I have read a lot about open softwares ,red hat ,mandrake ,ubuntu and all the rest .I want to find out from you guys who are knowledgeable,which of them is good to deploy as a server.

i didnt know that ubuntu has a server version oh well i used ubuntu as an OS and it was pretty good as far as servers are concerned i used suse 9 and 10 but i think you have to pay for those or if you can find someone who will give you a live disc.
Suse 9 was very easy to understand and work with the interface was so easy but we had issues getting the suse to send and recive mail through a windows domain controller so you might have to do your home work on that.

ubuntu always had a server version, and its totally free, plus u get the normalall hands supports ubuntu is known for. redhat is not free unless u going for itigba which i shld warn is at ur own risk

i have neva gone down that route so i dont knw abt the server version but from the experience in the desktop aspect, ubuntu shld be up to the task.

or suse, they do good things too, am not just too sure about support