Linux as a file-server
 

I have 2 windows xp machines. They are used for audio and video editing. I can only put so many hard drives in each of them with all the other stuff.

I would like to plug a linux machine into my network switch. I need it to be setup as a file server. That way, either windows xp machine can browse to L:\ drive and access the file server.

This will allow me to have more storage for both editing machines.

I want the linux machine to boot up with no user intervention required. I will disconnect the monitor, mouse, keyboard, and put the computer out of the way. It will have only a power cable and network cable. I will need to control it with the remote terminal server.

The bios will be setup to power-on the computer after power-outage. By the way, what would it hurt if the power went out with linux running?

How could I achieve all this? Not the hardware - just how to setup linux to work like this?

Thanks!!!

set it up a a smba server for file serving (don't ask me how, search www.samba.org and this board) and secure shell to control the box.
When the power goes down, your server goes down. When the power goes back on, so does the server, never had problems with power failures.