Q: Hello All-
This is what I should do:
I have an existing LAN that I want on a parallel port laser printer attached to a network printer. I want the printer in the other room, and I have a LAN drop into.
I do not want any new HW to buy, and I happen to have an old box lying around, which is capable of running most versions of Linux. This is what it is:
P2300, 96MB RAM, Video, 6 GB HD, Network connection.
What I would like to know is what distro of linux will allow me to make this printer so I can host the rest of the LAN printer having it. I would like to work off of DHCP, and I wish it headless, no keyboard or mouse. This machine will do nothing but sit under the table and host the printer.
I experience using Solaris at work, but I never really ventured off into the world of Linux. I know there are many distributions, I want to know what the most effective solution for my situation.
If I do not have enough information provided, please feel free to ask me:)
Thanks prior
Chris
Re:RedHat
Mandrake
Debian
Slackware
SuSE
All of these would be great.
FreeBSD would also be a decent choice.
Re:SME Server (http://e-smith.org) it's a cinch. After you get tired spend $90 or so on a netgear PS110 and you'll be happy.
Re:www.freesco.org
EASY!!!!
it fits on a floppy disk and supports nearly all old hardware, will act as a print server through your parallel cable
check it out 
Re:<< Thanks for the response.
I have a few NIC's laying around, I was gonna use a 3com 905, I figured that would be supported.
If not, I have a netgear 311 and a Linksys or something in the drawer.
The printer is an HP Laserjet 5M. Is there a way to see if that is supported by Debian? >>
i'm sure all of those nic's would work, the printer i'm not sure on, search around for "CUPS" ("CUPS is the Common Unix Printing System") and gimp-print (at gimp-print.sourceforge.net, i looked and it includes your printer under "supported printers" and lists it as "fully operational")
i dont even own a printer so i really dont know much about using them under linux, but that should give you a start on where to look =)
Re:Thanks for the response.
I have a few NIC's laying around, I was gonna use a 3com 905, I figured that would be supported.
If not, I have a netgear 311 and a Linksys or something in the drawer.
The printer is an HP Laserjet 5M. Is there a way to see if that is supported by Debian?
Re:i recommend debian, i use it, and its totally flexible. you can have a desktop system with a big fancy GUI and all that, or you can have a real old machine running as a server or something, and use up hardly any disk space.
all you really need to make sure of before installing, is what chipset your nic(s) use. for dhcp i use pump.
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