Hi, do anyone know: (1) how to configure a firewall...how could i test whether the firewall is working? (2) Server built to communicate with linux and win200 clients...how do i know when the server is configured? Thank you!

http://www.webmin.com if youve never manually configed a server in linux this is a gui front end for doing this gui=(graphick user interface) to test simply do a simple file transervfer to test that samba is running as far as testing your firewall not to be rude but unless i know the person i dont tell them how to get past firewalls sorry just pay close attention when configureing it and there are online scans bys symantec and others that test your security

nmap is good for testing firewalls.

To check if you rfireall is working on Stealth mode or responding to port probes, etc. you can go here: https://grc.com/ and go through the "Shields Up" test. It will probe LEGITIMATELY and tell you of the results. (you can also read some very interesting stuff about computer security and learn quite a bit, if it appeals to you) The site is from Gibson Research Corporation, oneof the premier computer secuirty companies around. HTH Best regards...