I am about to set up a new venture using Linux servers.  I have used
everything from slackware to debian to ubuntu for personal and non-public
server use, but I haven't set up any "live" servers with Linux since
Redhat switched to Fedora Core.  The servers will be running a php web
service, with a mySQL back end.

I will not be the main admin for these boxes, as I will be pretty busy
with the business end of the venture.  I am looking for a distro that has
as automated a update/patch installation system as possible, whether free
or less than $500/server/year.  Also, it would be helpful if the update
system was GUI based.  Any suggestions about what you are using in a
production environment would be really helpful.

As a follow-on question, I plan to pick up a few Dell Poweredge 2650 dual
xeon systems on ebay.  Any thoughts on these systems running linux?

Thanks,

Brent Friedman