Is it possible to share a FC4 connection with a windows XP computer, as my parents want to get online aswell :/. If so could you please give me some steps and help. Thanks in advance

What do you mean, "share the connection"? Are you running XP/Fedora4 on the same machine at the same time (i.e. using vmware)?

No they are seperate computers as I explained, but I need to share the connection such as windows Internet connection sharing from this computer running FC4 and the other computer running Windows XP.

yes you will need IPTABLES running on your linux system and a 2nd NIC if you are running high speed connection or 1 NIC if you are on dial-up.

as for how to make IPTABLES do NAT for you, that i am not skilled enough to help with.

depending on your GUI and your distro, there might even be a simple point and click option for you.

best and easiest option is to either put together an old computer and run IPCop, or go out and buy a $40USD SoHo router like a Linksys or D-Link or SMC that has at least a 4port Switch and just plug everything through that.

I'm not made of money, besides I find it pointless to buy a router or hub to connect 2 pcs. But thanks anyway.

The router would most likely be the easiest way, though i agree it would be overkill for 2 pcs. I'm trying to remember from my Net+ course back in the day, but I believe you can use a crossover cable to connect the two pcs. You might want to do some checking to be sure, but that sounds like the best choice, unless you want to set up something like a vpn. Hope it helped.

$40-$60 is overkill? Plugging in two network cables is overkill? Getting the inherent security of a NATed connection is overkill? I think not. Whilst it is possible to double NIC the machine and share the connection that way, the only machine being protected will be the Windows one. As much as we may not want to admit it to ourselves, Linux is and remains a hackable system. The security rules for protecting our machines is every bit as valid for us as it is for Windows users. Getting the protection of being behind a router is the least we should do. The number of port probes and intrusions detected on my Linux box connected on the DMZ is orders of magnitude greater than all the other machines on the network combined. Jeez, a used LinkSys BEFSR11 can be found on ebay for under $20 - including shipping. If that's too much money, you need to sell one of the computers.

Actually, I am getting ready to buy a router myself, and perhaps 'overkill' was a little strong of an adjective. I was referring to the fact that LaserFrog was tight on cash, and the slight possibility of the crossover cable working would offset that, even with the security issues. But, as before stated, i would personally go with with the router. As far as what Dragineez suggested, you can't beat $20 bucks for a switch/router/hub/whatever. Especially a linksys . Just do your research.

Whatever you do, best of luck with it.

$40USD is not a lot of money. heck go mow some lawns or shovle some snow and earn the $40USD to go buy a SoHo NAT router or used PC.

No a router is not pointless for 2 PCs, in fact ALL computers should be behind some kind of NAT type protection even if it is only a single computer no matter what the OS is. Linux, Windows, OSx, BSD, does not matter, they can and will be hacked. they can and will be attacked. if you seperate them from the internet via a router of some type that does NAT, at the very least, you drastically reduce the activity your computer needs to handle, thus you can use its power for what you want instead of dealing with attacks all the time.

wow one google question:

used linksys routers pulled up this e-bay link for $14 USD for an old working linksys router:

e-bay

im sorry that you think so little of security when trying to share an internet connection that $14-40USD is to much to be considered.

I think as stated above, that if that kind of money is way out of line, then sell that 2nd computer until you get a job and can afford it. or better yet, call your ISP and cancle your connection for a few months and save up the money you would pay them to buy a router.