NAT or ???

[labwerx]

I have a little project that I'm working on and here's what I need to do:

I have 2 windows laptops and 2 linux servers. I need to have the linux boxes connect directly to one another via PPP (dialup most likely). I then need to connect my windows laptops to the linux servers via ethernet and be able to transmit data between the laptops as if they were connected to each other via x-over cable.

Would I use NAT to do something like this?

[DaijoubuKun]

NAT = Network Address Translating

NAT is generally used in routers to share a single internet connection. If your going to connect the 2 linux boxes over ppp you won't need to use NAT, they can just dial each other. The windows boxes can connect with an X-over cable (also know as a cross over cable). However, if you need a windows box to talk to another remote windows or linux box you will need NAT through the linux box (assuming you will only have one connection through one of the linux boxes).

reading your question again more carefully I see that you will need NAT, because the linux bosed connected to each other over ppp will need to "share" their connection with the laptops, so yes. You will need NAT

[soulestream]

you dont want two linux servers, you need to linux boxes acting as routers.

soule