Well, I was recently enlightened in the glory of linux, and I have to say it truly impresses me (not to mention my friends). I managed to overcome obstacles like learning how the file system works to how shells work and even dual booting. However, two problems remain I -- networking and sharing internet.

I have two computers: One upstairs that runs Windows XP, and another downstairs in my room that runs Win98 and Slackware. My XP computer (Which also happens to be my parents computer) has two NIC's, one to the modem, and one to the network. Computers on the network like mine in my room connect directly to my XP computer for internet access AND printer sharing. Why? Because I'm too cheap for a router/splitter/hub or anything. The internet sharing and networking works when I use Win98, but not when I use Slackware.

I understand I need 'Samba' to browse networks, but it doesn't address internet sharing. I would like to get this working for Slackware, since the internet adds a signficant functionality to any computer.

in answer to your question, yes they can get along ( with some tweeking here and there )

firstly, can you ping your parents machine?

Actually, yes, the linux can ping the XP, but my XP machine can't ping my Linux.

okay,

to get your xp machine to ping your linux box
type the following command on your linux box ( you will have to be root if you need to make a change):
cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/icmp_echo_ignore_all

basically, the command above will display everything thats inside the file above

if the result is ( on the line below ) : 1
your system is configured to ignore all icmp ping packets, to disable this type:
echo 0 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/icmp_echo_ignore_all
and in your xp machine should now be able to ping your linux box

next step is to look at how your linux box is configured and how it should be configured

firstly run these commands on your linux box and then post your results here

command 1: route
command 2: ifconfig

secondly post your windows98 network configuration here aswell

this way we can look at how your machines are configured and where we have gone wrong

Alright, I ran the tests and stuff, and here are the results:

The result of the first test was a 0, it wasn't set to ingore the pings. I think I found out why from the following tests.

First test:
route

Had 3 results

Destination: 192.168.0.0
Gateway: *
Genmask: 255.255.255.0
Flags: U
Metric: 0
Ref: 0
Use: 0
Iface: eth0

Destination: Loopback
Gateway: *
Genmask: 255.0.0.0
Flags: U
Metric: 0
Ref: 0
Use: 0
Iface: lo

Destination: default
Gateway: DENPC.mshome.ne //this is awsome. My XP box is named DENPC on the homenetwork. I'm glad linux detected this. I don't know where the mshome came from, and ne is my state.
Genmask: 0.0.0.0
Flags: UG
Metric: 0
Ref: 0
Use: 0
Iface: eth0

Next test:
Ifconfig

eth 0 Link endcap: ethernet Hwaddr 00:60:08:3B:7B:F2
inetaddr: 192.168.0.161 Bcast: 192.168.0.225
mask 255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST NOTRAILERS RUNNING MULTICAST MTV: 1500 Metric: 1
RX packets: 136 errors: 0 dropped: 0 overruns: 0 frame: 0
txpackets: 28 errors: 0 dropped:0 overruns: 0 frame: 0
rxbytes: 31166(304KB) Txbytes: 4937(4.8kb)
intercept: 0 base address: 0x1040

Final test:
Windows 98 config (I ran ipconfig in DOS)
0 ethernet adapter
IP: 192.168.0.76
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1

i put slack on my little bro. computer. he has a new gateway with XP. dual boot. its fine. works good.

okay,

looking at your results i would say your default route may be configured incorectly,


just to see if i am correct, try to ping denpc.mshome.ne and see if it resolves back to your windows box, if that fails try to ping your windows box ( 192.168.0.1 ) ( although you tried this before and you said it worked )

i am suspecting that your dns settings are incorrect, and the linux box is tearing its hair out trying to find denpc.mshome.ne

as i found out; when setting your default gateway put an ip address in otherwise ( unless its in your hosts file ) the system cannot find out what the ip address of the router is unless it goes on the web, but cannot get on the web untill it finds an ip address out. its a catch 22/chicken and the egg problem


alter your linux boxes network configuration to match win98's config exatly ( after all you can only run one os on one computer at a time so ip conflicts should not matter )

THANK YOU ANTKEN!

My internet now works--matter of fact, I'm using it right now! I configured to gateway, but I also told it to use a nameserver. I have no idea what a nameserver is, but somehow it magically made my internet connection work.

Thanks a bunch, man, I can't thank you enough.

no problem,

thats what linux is all about

basically a name server is a bit of software that allows humans to interact with the network better ( try remembering all those ip addresses !! )

the name server, or dns server, holds a list of ip addresses and names ( records ) and when you give your computer an instruction to go to www.linuxquestions.org your computer looks at its own file ( the 'host' file ) to see if it has any matching records, if its not found then it finds your name servers ip address from your own network configuration and makes a connection to the server.
when connected it asks the dns server ( basically ) 'whats the address for www.linuxquestions.org?' ( not as simple as just a direct question, but you get the idea ( i hope ) )

the server then replys 'the ip address is: 64.179.4.146'

the client then closes the connection and addresses the server directly.

simple as that! you can use google to find out more about nameservers and how that work, there are dns servers for both unix based operating systems and windows, i prefer the one for the unix OS ( its called 'bind' )

play nice