how? i want my linux to be the server, rather than using WinXP's ICS.
any help? thanks guys

I used smoothwall express on a small machine as a 'folder.'
The main idea is to setup a http proxy server on the linux machine.
I can't remember which ones worked well/easy, but that's part of the fun, right?

I am assuming your internet connection is not off ethernet (IE you don't have an ethernet connected ADSL router or cable modem) and the linux machine is the only local hardware talking to the modem/router and you only have one NIC on eth0.

First optain and setup a proxy server on your linux box (Squid is supposed to be good, I never got around to trying it out though.)
The proxy will (most likely) need to know where the internet connection is and where eth0 is.
Some proxy's don't seem to need this AFAIK.

Whith the proxy running, get into the XP box and configure it's network setting to view the linux box as the default gateway. You'll pretty much just enter the IP from eth0.
You can also configure the XP box's proxy settings (wherever they are, be it network settings or individual applications) to the same IP (again from eth0).

To be honest, the most trouble you'll have will be with the proxy. With so much to choose from and so many configuration options, it can be daunting at times. I would take it slow and make sure you do that little bit of research needed for a trouble free operation.

Hope that helps.

First of all, thanks.

ok, i'll give abit more info on my network:

WinXPbox---eth1--Linuxbox--eth0--adsl modem

i got two NICs.
the Linux box is dual booting with another WinXP.
i should say that although i am not that new to linux, i have never done any "complicated" networking setups.

Has any of this info changed the thing i must do to set up the sharing?
thanks.

This should be fairly simple to set up, depending on your Linux distro... Mandriva has an option in a config file that you need to modify in order to activate ip forwarding (just add FORWARD_IPV4=yes in /etc/sysconfig/network)

However, this would mean no firewall, no protection, no advanced thingies. I've been using shorewall as a firewall for a few years now and it is pretty simple to configure, there is extensive documentation on their site (www.shorewall.net), and works with every distro, provided the requirements are met. Configuring ip forwarding is just a matter of setting IP_FORWARDING to On in /etc/shorewall/shorewall.conf.

Read here for some more info about setting up networking: http://www.linux.se/doc/HOWTO/mini/H...i-HOWTO-3.html

Install firestarter, the configuration wizard that comes up on first use will guide you through internet connection sharing, thats the easiest way i found to get it wroking