I have 3 NIC card... Actually I also have a plan to use that machine to having to internet connection...
OK, Then it would be better if you set up Mandrake to handle the Internet connection and Internet sharing first. If you plan on hosting any websites, email servers, FTP, or other Internet-available services,
it would follow that you'll be better off with a static IP address and a domain name.
As an alternative, you can use one of the many free dynamic DNS services, but a lot of your functionality may be a question of whether or not your ISP will permit it.
For instance, your ISP may be blocking ports 21, 25, 80, and 110, effectively preventing you from offering FTP, SMTP, HTTP, and POP3 directly from your connection. This is something you'll have to find out by contacting them directly.
On the other hand, assuming that you are allowed by the ISP to offer up your web services to the Internet, then I'd suggest a few things.
Since you have 3 network interface cards (a.k.a. NIC's) already, I'd suggest that eth0 (NIC #1) be used for your Internet connection, eth1 (NIC #2) be used on it's own subnet (10.0.0.0/255.0.0.0 - for example) to connect to a hub or switch and from there to most of the other systems on your network, and finally eth2 (NIC #3) on a different subnet (192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 - for example) to connect to one last system, which can host any additional services you wish to experiment with.
As a bonus, you can build your firewall so that anything on NIC #3 can be your De-Militarized Zone (a.k.a. DMZ) and/or set up as a "Honey Pot" zone to trap would-be intruders.
If you don't plan on implementing a DMZ in this fashion, then remove NIC #3, since it wouldn't serve any other purpose. The only other option with NIC #3 would be to set up the second subnet and to use it like NIC #2, as another subnet. Keep in mind that you should still use a different subnet than your first one.
While that may be a lot to digest, it gives you several option on what you can do with the system. Once you decide on a plan of action, come back to the list with as much info as you can provide (ISP details, long-term goals of the Mandrake box, etc., and I'm sure that someone will be around to help out.
Thus endeth the lesson.
Mr. Geek Registered Linux User #190712
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