Gentoo router can't connect to anything... but it works

[Zenex]

I wish I could be more descriptive, but the problem is very strange, and im a relative noob (when it comes to networking and linux). i dont even know what to search for on this one.

Basicly, I set up a gentoo router/firewall like 4 months ago, and haven't touched it since (except during a power problem, but that was just an issue of pressing enter on the lilo boot screen). When I went to update it, it wouldn't connect to the internet, OR any computers on the network. The reason this is odd is because the internet works on all the other computers on the network. Just not the firewall. Thats why i never noticed for so long.

The network is set up like this:

DSL Modem -> Gentoo Box -> Hub -> all other computers

I know the wiring is correct because the internet works on everything, and as far as my limited knowledge is concerned, all the config files are set up correctly. I'm not even sure which config files to post here.

i even tried connecting via ssh from outside the network (the machine has a static ip), but no such luck. I can't connect to it from any machines inside the network either. I imagine my problem would be a neat security trick though, where one can have a NAT where the router ceases to exist. I can't even ping it (from inside or outside).

ifconfig -a shows that both network ports are up and running with the correct settings.

/etc/hosts used to have my whole network, but i cut it down to just the server for troubleshooting. There was something odd about it, it had localhost set to 127.0.0.0. I changed this to 127.0.0.1, but it didn't solve anything.

frankly, i dont even remember how i set up the NAT, so i'm not sure how to troubleshoot that.

sorry if i'm being vague, i just have no clue what could be wrong or where.

i can provide more details if someone can tell me what details to provide...