Does anyone know how I can use Linux to track printing on half a dozen Windows XP home machines sharing printers.
My newbie networking/general question:
What server/component of Linux am I looking at starting with here. SuSE LINUX Standard Server 8 is big bucks, but still cheaper than say "print Audit" (is this what I want?)
Should I start reading about Samba?
thanks

It sounds like you need samba. If you attach your printers to the linux machine then samba will accept print jobs from window boxes. Samba can also see and print to printers attached to window boxes.

If you are printing windows to windows I am not sure if it is possible to route the job through samba for auditing purposes. Along with samba, linux has an elaborate network based system for handling print jobs called CUPS (Common Unix Printing System - www.cups.org). I have only a superficial understanding of these things, so I can't offer much advice on configuration.

I'm not sure how much you want from your server. I use the Clark Connect firewall/router distro (www.clarkconnect.com). This has both CUPS and samba, and can be used as a print and file server. Easy to install and has a simple web-based admin interface. Couple of hundred Mb download and free for non-commercial use. Other similar things around I'm sure.