I was trying to set a server in my home network.
Yes I consider my self a newbie.
My conclusion is
Linux must be great, but not for all, or at least not for all purpose.

I losted a lot of time and the worst of all:

My linux box not want to release the IP address from my cable provider!

Oh beautifull microsoft ipconfig!!! where are you in linux ?

I tried

control center-network graphical mode ---nothing

(This stupid program reconnect automatically on log off)

ifconfig ---- nothing (maybe some trick for the linux gurus)
ifdown eth0 ----- stops the interface, not release the address
net stop ----- nothing

What the hell dhcp client uses Mandrake ? And how to release the address?

ifconfig eth0 down; ifconfig eth0 up

Type it exactly like that in a console as root.

Then type ifconfig to see whether your ISP's IP got released.

Nothing ...
the command
ifconfig eth0 down; ifconfig eth0 up
KILLED the connection without releasing the IP address...

maybe you have a static IP? *shrug*

No my IP is not static...
The problem is exactly that...

The time is runing and my frustration with Mandrake is growing...
They are traying to windowmize linux whithout the good points of windows....

As opposed to Windows' ipconfig which doesn't when you ipconfig /release? For your info, when you release your IP, of course the connection is killed.

What do you actually want to do here? Did you configure your NIC to use DHCP?

Err... last I checked Mandrake (or any other Linux distros for that matter), never forced you to use it, you made that choice yourself. If Linux is way over your head then maybe you're right, maybe its just not meant for you.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do

Azmen,
Thank you for your answer and your time.

But really I Think I'm got in trouble.

In the old times linux made both actions simultaniously I mean "shut down the connection" and "release the ip address". For that reason I had not trouble with Red Hat or the Old Mandrakes. But seems to me that now something had changed in Mandrake 9.1. (is the first time that I have succes in the installation)

What I want to do is simply uplugg the network cable from my linux box and connect it in other computer. Windows or not, and of course to connect to internet.

It is so difficult?