Success! WOOOHOOO! I finally got my install of Mandrake 9.1 to share an internet connection through a Windows box. The problem was with my settings in the windows computer. I set the TCP/IP to enable DNS, gave the computer a host name, ran through the internet config wizard on the linux box again, and now it works.

Probably sounds trivial to most of you but it is a big victory for me.

i still think it should be the other way around IMHO but in a lot of cases i know that's not possible.

Cool, you can always post your success stories herefor others to read,

Now I need to figure out how to set up the linux box with the internet connection (dial up) and share it with the wimdows machine. I know how to configure linux for connecting using a modem, have done that more than enough times, but I have never been able to set it up to share the connection with a windows network. Also would like to share a printer through the linux computer. I think I need to set up samba to do that.

If you are using a DSL/Cable external modem, there is a better solution than using windows internet connection sharing which is rather slow and inefficient.

If you have an old PC lying around, you can turn it into a router/'firewall with DMZ services all in one!

Have a look at www.freesco.org

The product is a linux router+ firewall with DHCP etc all rolled into one package that boots off a floppy disk!

If you install it to run off a harddisk, you can add in your MTA and web services as well!

All you need is an old PC with two network cards (Or one modem card if you are using dial up).

Its a good project for a lazy sunday afternoon if nothing else!

Regards

Richard