Networking Linux and Windows

I love asking questions... ;)

The background:

As some of you know, I have two computers. One is running Windows 2000 (connected to the internet via a hub in my dad's office and a cable service. The other is a Linux machine that is not connected to the internet or to the hub.

The question(s):

1) To network my two computers, should I get a seperate hub? This way, I won't interfere with my dads work, and we won't have too many wires running through the house. About how much is a cheap hub?

2) Is it hard to network two computers, one running Windows and the other Linux? All I really plan on doing is some file sharing so that I don't have to burn a CD every time I want to download something to use on Linux.

3) The computer with Linux is pretty old, (An IBM PC 300GL), so I'm not sure if I'll need an ethernet card, or what.

4) Once networked, is it hard (or possible), to let the Linux computer access the internet though the Windows computer?

Heh, still learning how to use Red Hat :p

1) You don't need a seperate hub but it will reduce the amount of wire trailing around the house.

2) Anything that's IP based such as FTP or Web will work fine. File sharing I don't know about.

3) I don't know what it can support, but if it can not support a 10BaseT card then you will need to get a second network card for your Windows machine that can handle 10Base2 and link them that way. If it doesn't support Ethernet at all then I have no idea.

4) No, it should just route through as long as you give the Windows machine's IP as the gateway.

Ok, thanks...

So far, so good. I do believe my Windows machine has an ethernet card, but not so sure about the Linux machine. Also, is there a way to network the two computers without a hub? Like a direct ethernet connection or something?

I know I should know what this is, but I've forgotten the meaning of 10BaseT and 10Base2. (It's been a while since I read about networking...)

I'd use a hub or a switch, you can get a cheap hub from like under $30. However, you can connect the two together using one cable if you get a special "crossover" network cable, which is wired slightly differently so you can connect two computers straight to each other without the need for a hub.

A hub would definitely be better. A switch is far more complicated than is needed and costs a lot more too.
Just a note: We've never manage to get 100Mbps over a crossover cable. They always seem to be limited to 10Mbps.

Actually, you can get a switch for only a fraction over the price of a hub. Why get a hub when you could have a switch, for a fraction more?

Can you let me know your supplier. In all my experience hubs are cheaper because they're dumb. Switches are "intelligent" and so cost more.

File Sharing between Windows and Linux is done via SAMBA !
Check http://www.samba.org/ for more details.

I don't know why you would want to get another hub? Is the old one full?
If you want to direct connect the two machines than you'll need a second nic (network interface card) in the windows machine.
My cable provided does not allow to have the cable modem shared between computers and is bounded to the mac of a nic in my server. So I have to have the modem conncted to this nic and I have a second nic connected to the hub...
All my other computers are also connected to this hub. The machine which holds the nic with the special mac is a linux machine ;)

Wah... dunno if everything is understandable ;) just ask if somethings unclear

Thanks for the help, guys! As I said, if I used the old hub, we'd have wires running though the hall, downstairs, though the living room, and back. It's complicated. I think I'll buy a cheap hub on the weekend...Thanks!