HowTo set up a home network
 

hello!!
well first of all I am a complete :newbie: when it comes to networking, that s why I am requesting this HowTo.
I managed to have two computers connect to internet. My computer is running Mandrake 10.1 (dual system with XP) and my father's is running Windows XP. For clarifying I shall call my computer Osiris and the other one Aurora.
Now I have Cable connection to internet.
From the modem a cable goes to my computer and connects to a network card, so I have internet. From the same modem a very long cable goes to Aurora and connects in the same way (the cable is about 20 feet long :)).
So, both computers have internet through the same modem (perhaps its a hub also??). The modem is a ZyXEL.
Aurora has a printer working and I want to use that printer but I don't know what configuring should I perform on either computer...
perhaps this is a simple task or perhaps it isnt, I just need all the help you can offer.
Thanks a ton!!

Install a router. You can get a decent motorola or linksys router at places like wal-mart.

Connect the cable modem to the router. Connect the two PCs to the router. Instant internet for all!

That is the simple, concise answer. There are likely some other things you would want to check/configure (changing router password, configuring firewall, configuring some apps), but as long as you only have DHCP running on the router and both PCs have their ethernet setup to Auto IP (or some variation), everything should work with little effort on your part.

As far as printing from the linux box to the Windows box, first make sure the printer is shared (right click on it in windows).
Here's a how-to:
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/SMB-HOWTO-10.html

I seem to recall another way to do it, where in windows i created a "new" printer set to just print raw. there's a printing GUI for Fedora - not sure about Mandrake - and in one of the steps you shoose Networked Windows printer, and if the printer is available and shared, it should auto detect it.

If I understand your long story, what you want to do is share you father's printer so you can use it.

First, share your father's printer on Windows XP by going into the control panel and then printers. Select the printer, right click and then click on share.

After, you can access your father's printer from your computer. Install a network printer on Windows XP on your computer or use CUPS (www.cups.org) on Linux.