I already have a simple Debian based step-by-step that can be included if you want. I use it whenever I do a fresh install for my p2pool node. It includes installing all required packages, compiling bitcoind to include options for --disable-wallet and --without-gui, creating a bootstrap file the official way using linearize, creating a simple script for starting p2pool with options such as a manually specified payout address, and configuring some basic options for bitcoin.conf.


With regard to OS consideration, I have the following to say: CentOS... Meh, Ubuntu... Yuck, Windows... Crazy, and Debian... Winner!