Mini g4 internet via XP

[itsonlytheend]

So here's my setup

Mac Mini G4 1.42 Tiger
Gateway P3 733 XP Pro
Before I switched I had previously invested in a USB wireless networking adapter. Not wanting to pay so much, or anything more really, I opted not to get AirPort.

So I kept the device plugged in to the Gateway machine, and ran an ethernet cable between the two, turned internet sharing on and voila, I was connected on the mini. BTW, the PC runs headless.

However, almost everyday, the Windows machine requires a restart or some sort of failure, everything checks out in device manager blah blah, windows world... ...anywho, it still crashes very often.

Does anybody know of anyway to duplicate my network setup by using a Open Source OS like linux perhaps, that wouldn't be too complex, and more reliable?

Thanks

 

[DannySmurf]

I'm curious... why are you running your mini's internet connection via Airport? The mini has a wired ethernet connection. You could just invest in a $30 router (or an even cheaper hub if your ISP gives you more than one IP address) and connect all of your computers through that, without any machine relying on any other for its connection.

 

[itsonlytheend]

sorry

yeah, the cable modem is halfway across a 100 year old home, I'd be fool to drill through the floors or anything like that. Wireless is practical

 

[ChrisA]

Does anybody know of anyway to duplicate my network setup by using a Open Source OS like linux perhaps, that wouldn't be too complex, and more reliable?

Thanks

Yes of course Linux would work. Linksys uses Linux inside a few of their routers. Linux is about as stable as you need. The hardware will fail before the OS crashes. Other UNIX-Like OSes would work as well. Look into Sun's Solaris, BSD UNIX, Apple's Darwin and any of the mmajor Linux distributions. All of these are free Open Source OSes.

That said the cost of electric power is such that you don't want to use a PC for a router unless you need to do some complex routing and/or firewall work.