:) :) :) it pings, both ways... i'm soo very very happy not only will it ping, but it'll smbmount now i can work on setting up the smb server in Linux to play... so i can log in from windows and play with some files, work on my webdesign, all in all have fun thanks soo very very much i'm sure as time goes on i'll come up with more and more questions... zac