This might be an OT question but I'm wondering if it's possible to build some sort of linux router that would allow me share a cable internet connection to each of the boxes on my network - and let them all have individual IP addresses. I am currently using a linksys wireless ethernet router, but due to it using one ip address for itself and assigning each of the boxes connected to it a 192.168.x.x address, I am unable to use one of the boxes for an FTP server for odd reasons, even though I route port 21 to a port on the router.

Help is appreciated...

If you want a real IP for every computer you are going to have to pay for it from your ISP. I'm not all that familiar with port forwarding but it should work, are you sure your router supports it?

Do you have dynamic or static IP address on the cable side? Depends on the ISP but most will allow for more then one Dynamic IP address. You should be able to setup a PC as a ftp server unless your ISP blocks port 21. Can you ftp between your local PC's. Is networking on the local side working? Are you using a static IP for the FTP server? Have you set the ftp pc's gateway to the routers IP address? Have you assigned the correct ftp PC's IP address to port 21 of the router? Make sure the DCHP range does not overlap the ftp server static IP. What distro are and security setting are you using. RH sets the firewall to block incoming traffic.

If I am reading this right (you still want ONE ip for your internet connection, but multiple one's for your home network?) then yes, you can do that with linux. It takes a pretty basic routing capability in fact. I don't see why you can't get the lynksys to work though... are you sure that you have incomming connections allowed?

"one ip address for itself and assigning each of the boxes connected to it a 192.168.x.x address" That should make no difference at all, you don't need (or want) the ftp server to have the actual IP address of your site.

I don't know, maybe I'm not reading the Q right.

anywase, good luck