I'm just getting back into Linux (it's been a little while for me). I want to configure a system for just a Firewall or maybe a Proxy. I don't care about any other bells and whistles... it doesn't even have to have a GUI. I just want it to do what I want it to do, but I'm not ready to build my own Linux from stratch yet. Which Distro would you guys recommend?

IPCop
http://ipcop.sourceforge.net/
Dans Guardian is an excellent web filter if you need that functionality:
http://dansguardian.org/

I use "monowall" which is a bootable cd image of FreeBSD. The computer only requires a cd and at least 64 MB of memory. This is a great firewall and if you are so inclined you can build a network filter.

http://m0n0.ch/wall/installation_cdrom.php


Ron

Smoothwall works great for me.

http://www.freesco.org/

I agree with the other user that referred you to m0n0wall. Great system. I think you should take a look at redWall firewall, too. It's clean, highly flexible, packaged with quite a few very useful tools and has an incredibly useful web interface.

Best of luck,
Root

Ditto. (What he said.)