I'm trying to play around with my home network infrastructure. Basically, everything works using DHCP with my 5 hosts. What I want to do is use static IP addresses in each Linux or Win32 box I have.

Theoretically, all I'd have to do is disable the DHCP server in my router, then manually set IP and subnet mask for each computer, correct? Would the default gateway be the LAN IP of the router (in my case, 192.168.2.1) or the Gateway ip address I see when I check the connection status on my router configuration page?

For my other question, is there a way to automatically update your /etc/hosts file so that each name/ip combo are correct even though the router changed an ip address?

Using comcast cable internet service
SMC SMC7004VBR router

for the clients, the gateway would be your router (192.168.2.1)

I don't understand your question on /etc/hosts. You should add to the clients' hosts files the name and ip of all of the other clients. These are static, so they won't change. What do you mean "even though the router changed an ip address"? What addresses are changing?

-larry