Wandering if I can get some advice on the best OS to begin to learn from. I'm playing with an UltrSparc 10 and I'd like to install Sun on it. I paid the $20.00 and downloaded 8 but it keeps bombing out on me on the CD2 burn. I now look up and notice that 9 is free on the UltraSparc platform. I've been looking and can't seem to find an active forum dedicated to UNIX, so can someone give me an idea if it's best to start w/9 and leave 8 alone for now? I may download the Intel version of 8, but I'm not sure about the learning curve between the 2.
My main reason for the Sun is to install and manage IDS for my home network. I have very little unix experience as I'm mostly a windowz user.
Any response is appreciated.

My main reason for the Sun is to install and manage IDS for my home network.
Use SmoothWall (www.smoothwall.org) under Linux, it's a lot easier (see below) to configure and you will be able to get more support from the community if things go wrong.

I have very little unix experience as I'm mostly a windowz user.

So why the hell are you starting with SunOS?!?!