Networking advice needed

[ehhhhhhh]

Hi everyone,

So, I'd like to execute the following plan:

I have a laptop which I would like to use to connect to a wifi network, which is quite far, but it's a not a problem because I have a decent wifi antenna ("pointed" antenna or whatever the name is)

so, I would like to share this connection with the other PC's in my house as an experiemnt.

What I've got is a Netgear 1Gbit switch and a router which I suppose will come on handy as a dhcp server.

Any suggestions what operating system I should use for the "proxy" purposes? I was thinking of a linux distribution, but I'm not sure which one, and furthermore I'm not really sure which other software I will need.

Also, If I'm right then I will be able to use the same laptop as a caching proxy too?

thanks for your help in advance.

[ehhhhhhh]

Dear Ehhhhhhh,

The solution is very simple:

Connect the wifi to your laptop, install any linux distribution( kernel 2.6 preferably), install "firestarter", which is a firewall but capable of setting up internet sharing and it has a very simple wizard thingie too. Then select which interface has live internet connection and on the next page select the local network which does not have internet......viola....done and dusted....

No need to say thanks 8-)