Sunctions of Broadband Router

[!!tio!!]

Can it perform net function which enable us to share our files...?
And can you use LAN if
one PC is Linux n the other one is Windows?
one is XP n one is 2000 n one is 98??

[dugans]

Broadband routers do not share files , or anything else, on a pc but they can allow you to do so or not.

They can allow you to host a www, ftp, or email server, but again: the software must be on one of your local pcs.
All the router does is allow/disallow specific TCP/IP ports to get through. My local pcs are all invisible to a TCP/IP "ping" command-but the router is visible.

And yes, a router will work with any os that is using tcp/ip.
I currently have Win2k Pro, WinNT Workstation 4.0, and 3 Win98 rigs online through an 8 port hub that is uplinked to a 4 port router. I have also had Linux and QNX running in the past.

One of the biggest advantages ( to me) is that all my rigs can access the Internet without hogging resources on any of the pcs: I used to have one configured as a proxy server, but it slows things down a bit.

[!!tio!!]

so networking neighbourhood will work and be enabled, correct??

[dugans]

Network Neighborhood will work on the local network, but you would need to open the correct port to get past the router; and this would let others IN to your pc also.

Linux: to integrate linux and Windows you will want Samba. It is Linux software that allows a Linux pc to be a server or client on a Windows network. I believe there is software that allows Windows to see unix pc's on a local network also, but it costs $$$.

Or you could set it up as an intranet: Linux Web and FTP server using tcp/ip, and the same with Windows- this would let you "surf" each pc from the other as though you were on the Internet.