You might want to take a bit of time and learn a bit about Linux before you try and host a server with it. You can setup Virtual Box locally and just start trying to do things that you are curious about such as install L2J or a webserver. Best way to learn is by trying and doing. Once you get a bit more comfortable move to a remote machine and get used to it. You can get a kick ass ddos protected SSD KVM cloud server from https://portal.ioflare.com/cart.php for only $5/mo. That will get you used to working remotely. If you decide to pursue it let me know if you have any issues and I can help you out.
Good server with good staff are extremely rare and trying to pick one that is opening in the hopes that it will last and not die quickly is pretty tough. You can wait for an already well established community to open a server as it has a better chance of succeeding (such as Dex for example). But even than what are the chances that it will be the Chronicle and rates you are looking for.
Best advice i can give you is on this is watch upcoming servers that match what you are looking for than do the following:
- Check their site. Is it clean, professional with correct grammar and spelling? Is it just a rip of another site or have they done their own work? Is their control panel a copy paste from the shares section here on MXC?
- Are they using Official or L2J? This is by no means definitive but still gives at least a bit of an idea on quality and technical abilities.
- Talk to the owners on their forums or even better on their IRC if they have one and ask questions. How they reply should be a indicator on their maturity and demeanor and depending on the questions also their knowledge and technical skills.
It takes a little work but spending a little time now can save you a massive amount of time lost ingame.
Hope that helps some and good luck!
I know of one that is upcoming. 1x Interlude, bot protected, ddos protected, (Off Files - Vanganths), donations only for accessories + 1rst and 2nd class.
I'll post once I know a bit more when it will open.