>Jerry:
>
>Thank you for the replies.
>Am using Mandrake 8.2 downloads. Everytime I re-install everything goes well and automatic.
>
>My main goal is to host a Web-server, and have access to the e-mail server to send e-mails from my progs written in VFP 7. Reason is each e-mail is custom based on the database I currently maintain in VFP 7 on my w2k machine.
>
>I do this at work daily with no problems using the corporate mail-server, but
>i wanted to take advantage of the Samba server, to send some files automatically from VFP 7 into the linux machine.
>
>With mandrake everything works fine, it is all automated plug and play type of a thing, but these connection is critical to my home project.
>
>Someone suggested a router to achive firewalling and forget about cross-over cables.
>
>Still, i feel my first steps in this scenario are not 100% easy.
>
>I will try for ip_forward = 1 and see if there is anything that gets closer to my goals.
>
>Regards,


Tony,
If you are using crossover cables that is what is fouling up the works. Len was right. Use CAT5 twisted pair.
If you let MDK 8.2 (which is what I use) set up the NIC connected to the modem (which behaves as DHCPD) the modem will load the /etc/resolv/conf file with the DNS settings from your ISP. You can set the IP address of the second NIC card in the Linux box that has the modem connected to it to a fixed value like 192.168.0.2 and the W2K with something like 192.168.0.3. Etc...
/etc/dhcpc/dhcpcd.exe is a script in MDK which fires every time the dhcpd shuts down or configures the interfact.
/etc/dhcpc/dhcpcd-eth0.info contains the connection information, With IP Forwading and masquerading your W2K needs only to configure its NIC to see the second NIC IP address (in the LInux, the one it is connected to (either directly or by a passive hub) as a gateway.
JLK