network problems

[inbox t-online de (A. Benjamin)]

Hello,
I am a UMUC student majoring in computer studies and have only gain an
interest in networking over the last year. I have acquired a lot of old
equipment, computers, etc that I am so eagerly to advance. I am not a novice
at computers and have gain a valuable amount of knowledge and information
about networking. I have a small home network, a star topology through a
hub, with WindowsNT Server, WindowsNT Workstation, Windows 98, Windows 95,
Linux Mandrake 7.0 and hopefully to add a SparcStation 2 with Solaris OS.
Getting them to communicate is not a problem. I can browse and view all
computers, share files, etc. Performance and security is not at the highest
priority, but later will be. But I have a few inherent problems. The first
is that I want to utilize all the old equipment I have on hand and not buy
new equipment. Having said, the old equipment such as modems can't overcome
the high electrical interferference of a radio tower nearby, thus is
limiting me two the two device that can, ISDN and Win56K modem. But they are
in the house and not the basement. All of the computers are in the basement
networked through a computer (Windows 98 box) in my living room which I use
the most. I have a 24 hour Internet connection. I want to connect all to the
computers to the internet through a gateway. The Windows 98 box will be the
gateway.The Linux box will act as the Web server and firewall to protect my
provate network and must have a Internet connection via LAN through the
Windows 98 box. The Linux box would also provide a internet connection gain
from the Windows 98 box to the rest of the computers mentioned earlier. I do
not have a router and will use Sambra to provide the first level of defense
(firewall) in conjuction with another software to share an Internet
connection on the Windows 98 box. I could move the Linux box upstairs to the
living room to bypass the Windows 98 box and solve all of my problems, but
would not perfer that solution. I want to utilized this connection which is
allowing me to comunicate to you now to provide for the other computers. Is
there a way?