I have a small form factor HP just loaded with latest
distribution of Mandriva. Would like to install CNC
(EMC2) software on this particular machine with existing distribution. Have a windows box with Mach3
loaded, and would like to do a comparison before I
commit to purchase of Mach3 license. Mach3 interacts
with CNC hardware VIA LTP port, I have added a parallel PCI card to this PC to support same interface
for EMC2.

Questions
Is my intent possible to load emc2 onto mandriva ?
Really like Mandriva and have little desire to
migrate to another Linux dist.
Any help greatly appreciated.

I hope you are aware that Mach 3 is only a Windows-based program.
If you're talking about the EMC2 package from here: http://www.linuxcnc.org/

Then yes, since it's Linux software, but you may have to build everything from source. Or (better), run it from their live CD, and don't load ANYTHING on your hard drive.
The EMC2 software appears to be built on Ubuntu. That said, Mandriva might be a nice distro, but for the most part, Linux is Linux. Any distro will have pretty much the same commands, file structures, file systems, etc. Locking yourself into one distro limits what you'll be able to do. The best way to look at Linux (or any computer), is the same way you look at the CNC machine...it is only a TOOL. Trying to shoehorn an application onto a system where it wasn't designed to work may succeed, but cause difficulties. While you can grab a wrench and pound in a nail, because you LIKE that particular wrench, that doesn't make it the best tool for that job.

And honestly, if you're looking for CNC software, and Mach 3 suits your needs better, I'd suggest sticking with Windows just for that.