trying to network windows xp laptop using wireless internet to Zenwalk Linux desktop
 

Okay, I've got a dell latitude laptop running windows xp pro and is connected to a wireless cable internet connection. I want to connect it via ethernet cable to the desktop (hp pavilion) running zenwalk linux. I have tried using texts online but have so far had no luck. If I could get a step by step help it would be much appreciated. thanks.

SO you want to put a second NIC in the XP box and connect this to the linux box? Then you want the XP box to be the gateway (wrong term?) to the internet for the linux box? I guess they're not physically close to the cable modem? Seems like it's Internet Connection Sharing or something in XP? Do you have a crossover cable to connect the two NIC's? Does the cable modem assign a dynamic IP address? You really should provide a bit more information.

You are correct in your assumption that the boxes are not physically close to modem. I currently have the two physically connected with an ethernet cable, and the xp box configured for internet sharing. I _think_ I have the linux box properly configured, however the "eth0" status is down, how do I enable it? After I looked into the problem some more i think that that may be the only problem?

Please answer to larkl -- are you using a crossover cable? You need to (or else plug two straight cables into, e.g., a hub).

In the simplest case ifconfig eth0 up, but maybe you should get an IP address. I don't know what Microsoft means with "connection sharing", but maybe they offer you an IP address etc by DHCP? In that case, ifup eth0 should get everything running, assuming again you have the Linux box configured appropriately.

It's been so long since I did connection sharing with Windows that I can't remember if it assigns an IP address to the shared connection or if it somehow passes it through to the router/modem (dhcpServer). Surely the infos on some WIndows site??