I'm going to try to help you a bit by attempting to clear some things up.
Assuming you have the correct database sourced and an up-to-date compiled server:
eqhost.txt contains the information(IP/Port) needed to connect to a login server.
The login server verifies account credentials and sends you a list of available servers.
If you use eqemulator.net:5998 (The main eqemu login server), then you will have to have an internet connection (which you obviously do) any time you want to play on your server.
So if you are only using this server for people on the same LAN, then you should set up a MiniLogin server, or even your own login server. Whichever you decide to use you must use the same login server IP/Port that you use for eqhost.txt as you do for your eqemu_config.xml. If having an internet connection on all computers and possibly having the occasional visitor on your server doesn't bother you, then you could save yourself the hassle and just use the main eqemu login server. You can always lock the server, though.
If you have a router and expect others to connect to your server from outside of your LAN, then you will probably need to forward the correct ports so that they can connect to your computer. You will also have to add an exception to your firewall if you have one active. You can do this by setting it to allow connections through a specific port, or adding world/zone programs to the safe list.
Assuming you've read all of that and have tried everything, what exactly is the problem? You are using eqemulator.net:5998 for your eqhost and cannot see the server list at all?
What client are you using (on all computers)?
The Titanium client seems to work best, but I know that SoF and others work as well.
Did you compile the server yourself?
What eqemu server version are you using?
If you are following a server guide then which one?
Also posting your full eqemu_config.xml and all eqhost.txt files would help.
Any other information would help us help you.
I've set up EQEmu servers on Windows in the past, and have recently compiled the source and have it ready to go on my Linux box and everything works fine using the Titanium client (I am also using MiniLogin 6.2, but the main login server works just fine as well.)
If you are going to use the main login server it should be as simple as this:
In eqemu_config:
<loginserver>
<host>eqemulator.net</host>
<port>5998</port>
<account></account>
<password></password>
</loginserver>
In eqhost.txt:
[LoginServer]
Host=eqemulator.net:5998
I hope you get it working. Good luck.
Edit: Forgot to mention that 127.0.0.1 (or localhost) is the loopback address, that is, it connects back to your computer. So do not use that to connect to your server.
If you are running a database on the same machine, then use localhost for the database IP in eqemu_config.xml.
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