I have a shared internet network, with one server connected to the cable modem via ethernet card. The server then connects to two client comps via another ethernet card and a switch. The server is running Win2000 and the clients are both using WinXP, one pro and one home. Would it be more stable and dependable if I had Linux running on the server instead of Win2000?

A Windows 2000 router should be stable, but if you have problems, use Linux or BSD. My family has Windows 2000 sharing a dial-up connection, and you have to restart the "connection sharing" every time you connect (either that or I can't figure out how to set it up properly). Also, it seems to give one computer all the bandwidth it wants, even if the other is getting none. At school, I have an OpenBSD router/firewall. It ran for almost 4 months, then I had to reboot for an update (I wanted to enable IPX and use my roommate's connection as well as mine). When our Internet access went out, I didn't have to do a thing, it just started working again when the connection was back. It doesn't require any input; I could just plug it in, turn it on, and it would work. If you've never used Linux, you'll probably find it difficult to set up a Linux router. If you have some experience with Linux, you're probably better off setting up OpenBSD, because it's secure by default and has a complete, step-by-step guide in the FAQs at openbsd.org. The only trick to OpenBSD is making the iso, which can't be downloaded for free.

i would agree with jake's answer. i'm currently setting up a linux box as a router for a dsl connection to a network. this is my first time setting up linux but not using it so i'm not out of my depth. however, i've also used win2k as a router for a small business and that has been better than expected. the reasons that i'm using linux for my home office are cost, security and the need to be able to allow more than 10 connections to the box as a server (win 2k iis only allows 10 connections - you have to buy server to have more) ...and i hate m$ too! j

what are you talking about? a windoze server is ABSOLUTELY USELESS and expensive. with linux you can save up to 2000$ and more! linux makes the world go 'round! long live the penguin!

i would use squid and iptables on linux or bsd. you can install this (i.e. with debian ) on less that 200 mb and it will work like a charm. i have debian running squid here and its top uptime was almost 1 year. actually it has only been rebooted due to kernel upgrades or power failures. the hardware is an old p2@200 mhz and it has never crashed since i set it up which is almost 2,5 years ago now.