several computers, one laptop....
 

since my last post about installing slackware, i've bought a friends' computer, and was given another one. i had a desktop and a dell laptop. i've taken apart one computer, added to my desktop the hard drive, cd burner, and extra fans. the 3rd computer is halfway disassembled, and i plan on harvesting its hard drive and cd drive. I also have 3 monitors, a netgear 4 port ethernet hub, targus usb hub, and targus port replicator. I have a few questions:

1) would it be ok to remove the body of my desktop and leave it as is? if i install the 3rd hard drive, I don't think i exactly have enough room in the tower for it to be mounted...

2) can i set it up so i don't need a monitor/keyboard/mouse for the desktop, and instead access it via my laptop?

3) I have slackware and xp on both the desktop and laptop. would it be possible to take out the 3rd computer's ethernet card, put it in my desktop so it'd have 2 ethernet cards, plug in my cable modem to the desktop and change slack so it'd be a minimal install and act as a firewall/router, wire the 2nd ethernet card to the hub, and 2 wires to my and my brother's laptop? My brother uses XP, and won't 'switch over to linux'. I use xp for school related work, and slack for internet/aim.

4) how would i set up slackware so the entire OS is in russian? I am currently studying russian for a degree, and would like to be able to use all programs, go on the internet/gaim all in russian.

i must admit i do not know a lot about slackware, and i have had problems with samba when i lived at my old apartment. i will need a lot of help figuring it out so my brother and i can use the desktop as a file server. if possible, i would also like to leave the desktop running 24-7 (which i know linux is good for!) and act as my host for my website.

thanks in advance! i know this is a lot to answer...

Re: several computers, one laptop....
 

sure, but i'd be worried about the dust and shit it attracts

yes, that's a headless set-up. you will need them at first, but once it is set up use ssh or vnc or access the box

yes, look into setting up iptables. that's a whole other conversation though.


that, i don't know, but i'm sure it can be done.