Well, just set up Mandrake 9.0 on my current "main" system, which is often used as a NAT machine as well as conventional usage.

Was using drakconf to work with a few items, and added my two ethernetcards. One (eth0) is connected to the cablemodem, the other (eth1) is used for the LAN.

Now the interesting thing that comes up in using the drakconf networking wizard is that among other things, it says that I can enter a gateway IP address, though it implies this isn't necessary.

I have it set so that eth0 is the gateway device, but eth0 also gets its address via DHCP from the cabemodem ISP.

However, this thing refuses to let me continue unless I enter an IP address for the Gateway, so I put 0.0.0.0

This machine still accesses the internet just fine, but I don't know if that entry of 0.0.0.0 will screw up things with my LAN (the other computers are in storage right now, so I can't really test this).

Can anyone tell me if this is right or wrong, or if I have to manually edit a config file somewhere to eliminate the gateway IP address?

Try using 192.168.0.1........192.168.0.2.......and so on for each of your other pcs..... Do, you have mandrake installed on all your pc's? Is your main a duel boot pc? Are you using ICS? Was just wondering. I also use mandrake .

Well, on this PC I am using whatever Comcast gives me via DHCP for eth0, and 192.168.0.1 for eth1

I was puzzled as to why this thing was bothering asking me for a gateway IP since I selected eth0 as the gateway device.

Only one other PC has Linux/98lite dual boot (Mandrake 8.2, though I'll be upgrading to 9.0 once I get the system back out of storage again) on it, and that has an IP address of 192.168.0.5, and I know for *that* PC, that I *should* use 192.168.0.1 as the gateway IP.

But why am I supposed to enter a gateway IP for the PC with the 2 ethernet cards?

The PC with the 2 ethernet cards is also a Mandrake/98lite dual boot. In 98, I use a software that more or less does the same thing as ICS.

Because on the main system. You have to enter a gateway , because it has two ethernet devices installed. One for accessing the internet, and one for your lan. One has to access the internet, and the other has to run your lan. Especially , if your using one as a Host comp. and the others as Clients.

Plus , when you ICS , there are only so many ways you can go, with it.
I have four pcs , at home. Three , comps. and a laptop. Which all run , mandrake 9.0 or winxp pro. On a lan.
Hope I helped. And not made things worse.
William.

Ok, I think I understand that. But the problem is that the GUI in drakconf offered 2 items to choose as gateway, one item allowed me to enter an IP address (and the instructions imply that I don't necessarily have to enter one), and the item below it is a drop-down list which shows eth0 and eth1, so I choose eth0 (which is the ethernet card connected to the cablemodem).

I guess I'm uncomfortable entering an IP for the gateway because the IP address changes, due to the DHCP setup.

Ah well, I guess I'll find out if it works or not when I get moved to my new place and set up the client computers!

oh, im sorry. was not totally understanding what you was asking. shouldnt affect your current setup. That you have already. If you chose, eth0 and dont have your clients up and running on your lan. Then , you should be fine. as long as you have it set up, for dhcp and that is what your isp requires. when you get your lan up and running, then you can set up the gateway that the other pcs need to access the internet, and just make sure when you set up your lan, that you use eth1 for your lan.
William.