Will Cacko run the following:

BitchX?
Xchat?
OpenSSH-client
Kismet
Firefox
Thunderbird

Or do I need to be using a different ROM. I only just received my Zaurus today and it came with Cacko preinstalled.

i just want to know the best rom and the basic instructions to install it

It definitely won't run Firefox, Thunderbird or XChat without extra help. It will run kismet and OpenSSH.

I suggest pdaXii13. It's stable and does what you want (You may discover that Firefox and Thunderbird aren't what you want, though). I don't have download links/instructions, as I have never used it. I'm sure somebody else can provide them (or even Google).

I've decided to give TitchyLinux a go.
It has much better documentation in it's Wiki.
And I've used Debian & Ubuntu so I have some idea of what i'm getting into.

probably
probably
yes (client and server)
yes (check your CF wifi card compatibility, prism is best)
no (but it does have Opera)
no (has a basic GUI alternative)

you can still build stuff for cacko, just remember that its QT by default, if you want X11 need Meanie's X/QT stuff.