Need Networking Suggestions

[Livermoron]

Hello Gang,

I have an intel x86 system running Debian 2.2.

I currently have 1 Linux box and 2 Win 98 boxes. I would like them to be a nice happy networked family that has access to the internet. All machines have nics, I have a 10baseT hub and cable modem access.

I've done a bunch of searching for basics, but not making any real sense out of it, I figured I'd make a quick post.

Do I need to make the Linux box a proxy server? If so, is there a good proxy package/software for Debian? Also, would I need 2 Nics in my Linux box?

Am I overcomplicating this? Is there something easier I may have overlooked?

Any feedback will be much appreciated!

Livermoron
P.S. - check out the site on a linux box built for around 50 bucks. Pictures of the frankenserver available at the site. www.frank.freaks.com (http://frank.freaks.com)
index.html (http://frank.freaks.com)

[ 17 February 2001: Message edited by: Livermoron ]

[ 17 February 2001: Message edited by: Livermoron ]

[Craig McPherson]

You'll want to set up your Linux box as a router, then set its (internal) IP address as the gateway on the Windows machines. You'll want to give your Windows machines, and the internal network on your Linux box, IPs from a private range. Most people use 192.168.1.0/24 for this.

You'll need to activate IP forwarding on your Linux box, and set up a firewall script that'll active IP masquerading and do various other things like that. There are HOWTOs and NHFs about this, as well as being the topic of half the threads in this forum, so you should be able to find a wealth of documentation. Don't hesitate to post back if you get stumped or have any specific questions.

Good luck.

[FoBoT]

hey Livermoron! that is awesome, you stuck in there and gotter done, :cool:

if you need any more info than what craig posted above, let us know

is franky really serving those pages/pictures? :cool:

BTW- if you don't have franky and those winders pc's behind a firewall, then he/them are vulnerable. check your email ;)

[ 17 February 2001: Message edited by: FoBoT ]

[Fandelem]

Do I need to make the Linux box a proxy server? If so, is there a good proxy package/software for Debian?


i'm curious, why do you want a proxy server?

not trying to deter you, just wondering why :}

two that are awesome are:

squid and internet junkbuster.

squid takes up considerable resources, lots of hard disk space (for caching web page requests), and requires lots of configuring. (however squid administrators will tell you it is worth it.. but they use it on 100+ PC networks :}

however, internet junkbuster takes up very minimal resources, and acts for two main purposes: it blocks ads (saving you bandwidth) and makes your originating IP invisible. it requires very little configuring.

i've covered both briefly at http://www.fandelem.com/nhf.html

~kyle

[ 17 February 2001: Message edited by: Fandelem ]

[Livermoron]

Thanks to all that have posted - the input is much apppreciated.

Well, I think I was confused (fairly common :)). When I described what I wanted to do to someone else, they told me I needed a proxy server to have multiple computers share 1 ip - but perhaps they were unfamiliar with IP Masquerading.

It appears that IP masquerading is the place to start.

I still need to get another NIC i think? If anyone could confirm that, that would be great.. DOES THE COMPUTER THAT RUNS IP MASQ. NEED TO HAVE 2 NICS INSTALLED? Each computer in my currebt setup has it's own NIC.

In my travels, I did see a lot of information on Proxies and I may pursue that later once I get my IP Masq stuff running.

Thanks again for the replies - ttyl

[Lorithar]

*grins*

the answer is ... No .. but setting the system up with only one NIC will be substantially more difficult and rather confusing.

That is ... you can setup masqing and natting the pcs through one card, but the way one does this is lang winded and confusing... for simplicity's sake, get second nic, attach modem direc to the nic, and have other comps attached to the hub.

[deez]

that's great !!
you would want to make the linux box your gateway or (firewall. i use bsd because of the stabiliy it has.
4.4 preferibly
if you decide to use this distro then
you need to recompile the kernel and not use the generic one.
run ipfw on the linux box.
and you should be ok. if you want to
share file with the other windows box then add the pkg_samba

this is just a briefing
good luck !! :p

[Fandelem]

Well, I think I was confused (fairly common ). When I described what I wanted to do to someone else, they told me I needed a proxy server to have multiple computers share 1 ip - but perhaps they were unfamiliar with IP Masquerading.


*grin* that's what i thought; i was just checking :} any more questions, just post em, that's what we're here for =)

~kyle

[Livermoron]

Thanks all - I think I'll get a second Nic.

I have enough trouble with the simple stuff, no need to make things any more complicated than they can be.

I have also come across some good documentation on IP Masquerading. I spent a lot of time looking for info on proxies when I should have been researching IP Masq.

But that is the point - I ask the questions and the spirits in the box tell me.

Adios all - Thanks again