[tlug] linux hardware

[Forrest Nelson <fmn@example.com>]

I am new to linux and I want to set up Linux to serve the internet to my new gateway laptop running xp, and serve my web page and email. For now, I just want to concentrate on what hardware I need. Here is a list of what I have and what I think I need. Could someone help me confirm that this list is complete?

List of what I have

1. new gateway laptop running XP

2. old laptop running fedora 5, 1ghz cpu, 1gig of ram, 40 gigs of HD

3. my own ip address

4. 3 lan cables

List of what I don't have but what I think I need

5. a router  (any suggestions?)

6. a simple lan box with 1 main and 3 other client

connections (not sure if I need this or not)

Are there any other hardware considerations? I will only connect to the internet and not other file networks so maybe I don't need a router?

Forrest