I am trying to institute a File Server using Red Hat Linux 8.0 and to use this server as a server for a VPN. First of all, I am a newbie so any general advice on doing this would be very helpful.

More specifically, every other computer in our company utilizes some form of Windows (98 to XP). I want to set up the Linux File Server to handle the database (Visual FoxPro 6.0) and a number of Word and Excel documents. I want to be able to put the files for the VFP 6.0 database on the Linux server, and all the windows client computers will access the VFP application and tables from the File Server, work on it on their computer, and all changes to the tables will be stored on the Linux File Server.

Can this be accomplished? I don't know if Samba does this. If I can do this, then I think I will be able to create the VPN server so people outside of our office can communicate with our office. It's either this, or paying big$ for Windows Small Business server.

Thanks. Any help, no matter how unsophisticated or sophisticated, will be greatly appreciated. I am still very new to Linux!

Paul