This is my first attempt to try to set up a home network consisting of 3 boxes, 1 linux debian, 1 winxp, 1 Mac G4 and 1 epson printer. I want to make my linux the server and the others workstations. I already have an dhcp internet connection using a netgear router for my present system each has access to the internet through it's own nic's and the netgear router. The part that I can't seem to get clearly is what to do to each machine to recognize and use my linux as a server? I tried to use the How to from linux.com, but I'm confused.

well the question is what do you want to serve?? you make it sound like you'll point your clients at a server and somehow magically life is wonderful and it starts raining kittens and sweets... what do you actually want to do??

I'd like my server as the main storage to have all the files on it and the others as just work stations, and one printer for all.

ok, so storage would be samba if you're including windows machines, or just nfs of linux and osx. printing would be via cups.