Internet sharing with linux and win98 machines

[Ben Pfaff]

Don Chorman <chormand@pilot.msu.edu> writes:

>         I am going to get the AT&T@Home service installed this weekend.
> I have 2 machines on my apartment, one has RH 6.0 and the other machine
> is running win98. I know absolutely zip about networking.  A person who
> works at MSU said that I could set up my linux box as a DHCP
> server.

You could.  Admittedly it is probably unnecessary unless you
often move your machines between networks.

> He said I could hook the modem up to the linux box, and then
> network the two PC's. I think that the @Home service assigns
> its users static IP addresses. Will connecting through a DHCP
> server (My linux box) make my Win98 machine more secure( change
> it's IP too?)?

You'll be connecting through a masquerading server, which could
indeed make your Win98 machine more secure because there is no
obvious, direct way for an attacker to get access to it through
the Linux box.

> I was pretty much lost when he told me this stuff. Could you
> folks enlighten me about what he was talking about? Any clues
> would be great! Thanks,

I suggest you take a look at the Masquerading howto as suggested
by Marcel, it might clear up what we're talking about.