I need some help w/ setting up my home network w/ redhat 8.0 I have figured out how to get the internet to work on the linux system but I cannot get it to share, or get the server running for my windows computer to see the dsl and server. if you can give me steps to get this working I would really appricaite it. thank you.

are you trying to share out some files from you linux server to your windows computer or vise versa?

I am trying to make it so I can use my linux machine as a file server and also to let my windows machine access my dsl though the linux machine.

for the file server part, you have to enable it for samba, the file sharing package that will let you windows access linux shares.
Are you using xwindows (GUI) That will make it easier?

I have redhat 8.0 thats about all I know. I am new at this.

I really appricate you helping me with this.

no problem. The first thing you need to do is edit the smb.conf file. That will "share out" the directories you want to access. Look in the smb.conf file, it shows examples, it's very easy. You will basically just put the directory you want to share and permissions to what user ID's you want. After you have edited the conf file go to terminal and bring up the command line (If you have KDE running) and create a user name and password for the users you gave access to in the smb.conf file. The syntax will be something like > smbpasswd -a username -p. It will then prompt you for a password, go ahead and type that in. When you access this share through windows you will need to supply this username and password you created. For Windows 98 ME you will actually need to log in as that user. For 2000, NT just map a drive with a different username or click on the resource.
Youwill have to make sure you computer has a hostname and i.p address as well. The smb.conf file can be found in /etc/samba I think (been a while). If not at the command line just type whereis smb.conf. It will give you the directory.
Next go to /etc/rc.d/init.d/smb then type smb start.
Make sure to confure the SMB.CONF file the same as your windows workgroup or domain. Then browse to it in network neighborhood (It may take a few minutes). If it's configured correctly it will show up.

Billiam2003,

As far as setting up your Llinux box to route for the rest of your network, the first thing you need is 2 NIC's in the Linux machine, one to go to the internal network, and another one to connect to the DSL modem. Next, you need to install and configure BIND(DNS). If it is not installed on your Linux box already, download it from www.isc.org. Also, you'll want to have DHCP running from the Linux box so it can hand out IP addresses to all the other machines on the network. This is sounds very easy, but there's a reason hundreds of books have been written on it. BIND is especially annoying and difficult for new users. Look into it! Good luck!

Chris