I want to host my own website at home using a Win2000Server IIS, but more importantly want to learn how to configure it to work so people can access it from the internet. Present setup. cable modem -> linksys router -> NIC 1 Win2000Svr (DC/DNS) -> NIC 2 Win2000Svr to a 5 port linksys switch -> switch is connected to the LAN wich contains some Win2000/XP Pro clients along with the Win2000Svr IIS web server. would port forwarding on the linksys router be able to go from the Win2000Svr on NIC1 through to NIC 2 wich is connected to the LAN switch that connects the Win2000 IIS web server? or does the IIS web server have to be connected directly to the linksys router?

For ease of use and administration (and troubleshooting should it become necessary at some point in the future) you should have your web server plugged into the LinkSys router. In fact, if you plug it into the linksys, you might be able to use the management interface on the linksys to put the web server in the "DMZ". This would negate the need for forwarding port 80. I'm not sure if your router has a DMZ but you can find out quickly and easily by connecting to the management interface.

why do DMZ if I could do port forward, wich is safer? could i still do port forwarding if the web server is not directly connected to the linksys router, but connected to the switch wich is in the internal LAN?