I have a functioning network that connects through a switch, the switch is connected directly to internet: internet - switch - computer (win98) - computer (win98) - computer (mandrake linux) Now I want to connect another computer to this network, and I have thought of two ways to do it: 1. Connect the internet to my linux computer, and then that computer to the switch (to act like a hub), and three other computers connected to the switch. internet - computer (linux) - switch - computer(win98) - computer(win98) - computer (winXP) 2. Keep my connections as it is, which is three computers connected to the switch, the switch connected to internet, and the linux computer (which is one of the computers connected to the switch) connected directly to the fourth computer. internet - switch - computer(win98) - computer(win98) - computer(linux) - computer(winXP) ------------------------ I have tried the second option. I couldnt make it though. The switch automatically (i can do it manually if i want) gives the computers ip:s such as: 192.168.0.x, with a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0. The most normal way i suppose. That causes a problem, I don't know what IP to give the computers in the linux-win98 "sub-network". I tried 192.168.1.x, with subnet mask 255.0.0.0. I guess it's a stupid way to do it, but I don't know what possible IP:s i can use, and I don't know what a subnet mask is. So I don't only need advice on what kind of network to set up, but also what IP:s to use and where to use them. Thank you very much for your time.