I am currently using fedora and my step dad has xp. What I would like to do is network or pc's so that we can share the same isp. Would the fact that we have two different os's create a networking problem. I was also wondering if I would have to install an ethernet card on my pc and get a router or would I just have to get the router. I have chosen to purchase the zoom v.92 external modem because it works with all of the major os distros and was thinking of signing on with netzero highspeed.

I have not seen many problems. You might want to search out some info on Samba, iptables, ipforwarding, and possibly dhcp and dnsmasq. Networking is not a seamless task no matter what the o/s if you have never done it before. You can configure your linux box to be the router for your network. I would suggest staying away from Commercial ISP's unless you absolutely have to. Not many commercial ISP's make linux friendly software clients. Research from your ISP what type of PPP connection they support (usually CHAP or PAP). If you are thinking DSL make sure they support generic PPTP connections and that you get an ethernet card with your DSL modem as opposed to USB.

You can get me on IM sometimes if you need a walkthrough.

I suggest purchasing a firewall router / gateway for ~$20 USD. Keeps the network traffic down; unlike a hub which sends all incoming signals down each cable to the computer on the other end. You can then use Samba to connect to 192.x.x.x or whatever you set your network IP to.

-vi0lat0r

Configuring your personal linux PC as a router, starting from a standard distro like RH, MDK or similar, sounds like it could get complicated. This is certainly the minimum hardware solution. You just need a network card in each PC, connected by a single crossover cable. All the complication is in the software forwarding the window box's connection.

On the other hand if you want to connect using the v92 modem I don't see any way around it, and I'm not sure what the benefit is with a router/gateway with only 2 PCs.

Will winXP share an internet connection? Maybe it is easier to have the modem on the windows PC.

Hey, one more thing about ISPs... MSN doesn't work w/ linux. AOL probably doesn't work with linux. Earthlink 56k does and probably its broadband does.

No MSN on linux? Better tell these guys

http://gaim.sourceforge.net/about.php

to fix their advertising.

And these guys........

http://kopete.kde.org/