First Try at Creating Website

[kbb0927@cs.com]

Hello All,

First of all, I am a physician and not a programmer.  I am currently using
SuSE 7.2 as a fileserver, 7.2 gateway and the rest of the machines are 
using SuSE 7.3 -- all Pro.  I have SuSEfirewall2 up and whizzing along on
a home network, with no ports open for incoming access, only masquerading
and forwarding.

I want to set up website on my server for my family to access a family
genealogy page/reunion page.  I am versed in Kylix and am familiar with
mySQL.  I know I need apache, which I will install.  Can anyone:

1)  Give me a SXS on what I need to set up and suggestions as to how.
    I have downloaded the infon on .htaccess and apache from the SxS
    site.
2)  Recommendations on database:  mysql vs interbase vs postgres SQL.
3)  What ports other than 80 I will need to address and open in SuSE
    firewall2.
4)  Can I do this without FTP access?

Hope this is not too stupid of a question.  I have never done this 
before from scratch.  BTW, I am on comcast.net and DO NOT plan to
set up a mailserver, just a site to access and leave information for
other family members with an old-fashioned BBS type feel.  Of course,
I only want linux due to it's stability and security. There will be no
samba access, although I am sure most of the family will be windoze users.

Thanks in advance.

Keith B