You should go with ubuntu server - it's great and easy to use. You just have to do "sudo apt-get install openssh-server" then after its done, do ifconfig (in the terminal of course) then get the I.P and ssh into it. If you are on windows you can use putty from
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/