Linux as cable internet router

I'm looking at getting cable internet, and I have a Duron 800 to use as a dedicated home network/internet server.
I've never used Linux before. I downloaded Mandrake 8.0, but I haven't played with it yet. What version should I get and why? I want my two other computers to be Windows 2000. Would it be better to just have the server be Windows 2000?

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Apple? Macintosh? What are these strange words you speak?

I read that thread a while ago, actually. I just want to know if Linux is worth using, and what version I should use if I do.

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Apple? Macintosh? What are these strange words you speak?

I'd say that you should take a look at e-smith first. It's free, offers an easy install, is secure by default, and it lets you manage its main functions (firewall, proxy, e-mail server, web server, ftp server, virtual domains, file serving, ssh connections, etc) from a web-based interface. Looks like a very nice solution, and it'll allow you to grow if you want (it's a customized Redhat distribution, and you can log in and do whatever you'd normally do from the command prompt).

If you wanted to run Linux to learn something about it, I'd say stick with RedHat until you can find a reason to change. They seem to be driving the market right now, and a Redhat install (in my experience) is going to go a lot more cleanly than the other distibutions.

Should you only run Windows 2000? Depends on what you want. BTW, you might find that a $49 SMC Barricade router/switch does all you want faster than a server you build yourself.