New with Dedicated Server, Need Help!

Ok, I am going to be purchasing a dedicated server, and I will be using the Debian OS for it. This is the first time I've used a dedicated server, I've never set one up, I've just used shared hosting before with all of the stuff already ready (perl, php, webmail, dns, etc.). I just need help knowing what I need to do.

What I'm wanting to do with this is create name servers on the server, like ns1.stangsource.com and ns2.stangsource.com and have my domain name, StangSource.com, point to those in the DNS info with the domain registrar (like what you see with the logins with Register.com and Tucows, etc.). How hard is it to setup the name servers like that? What all is required?

Also, the simple things, installing Perl, PHP, etc., those should be rather easy, I have a friend helping me set up the server who has done this before, he just hasn't tried doing any of the DNS stuff or webmail, which brings me to my third question...

How do I setup a mail server? What about SMTP and Sendmail stuff so that I can have emails sent via the site to other email accounts? I want to be able to have emails such as URL and URL, be able to receive emails, and also send emails from the same address, I don't want to have to do any email forwarding. The current shared host I am using right now uses SquirrelMail, and I know the Debian OS has that package, what, along with the Squirrel Mail package, do I need to install/do in order to have a mail server and do the good ol' mail functions along with the SMTP and SendMail stuff?

Anyway, I'm pretty much wanting this server to have the same functionality as you would find on a shared server, have webmail, mail administration, just have a couple name servers to point the domain name to, be able to setup separate FTP accounts, have Perl, PHP, MySQL, etc and additional modules for each language installed and such. So please, I know it's a very broad and rather stupid question, but I am new to the dedicated server field and really need help, thank you.

Didn't the server come with a system management tool? Like Webmin or Ensim?