Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 41141 2003-12-31 13:56:00 LINUX home server hamstar (4) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
204483 2003-12-31 13:56:00 Watup...

I want to buy one of those cheapy low end systems off trademe (say a 266-400Mhz) and set it up as a server between the four computers in our house. The aim being access to printers and hard drives.

Is it possible to set up a linux command line on one of these HP, Compaq or Gateway rejects and is this even worthwhile. I have the Mandrake 9.1 cd's. Can I set it up so I have a ethernet card in all the other computers and then a four network cards in the server and use Xover cables between... or do I need a hub?

And just for an experiment could I use that Linux server like a 56k router and have it connect to the internet and then the other computers connect from there?

Peace out
hamstar (4)
204484 2003-12-31 19:19:00 For more than 2 PCs, you'll definetely need a hub/switch. I think DSE has an 8 port hub on special at the moment. You'll need to use straight-thru cables when using a hub/switch.

Using 4 network cards in one PC could just be creating more problems for yourself. Plus, considering the cost of 4 network cards, you could almost buy a hub for that price.

Linux server as an internet gateway (using 56k modem) - yes, possible, you can do that.

Someone like Chilling_Silently might be able to help you out with the details of setting up the server itself - esp. with Linux.
somebody (208)
204485 2003-12-31 19:56:00 Thanks Somebody :-)

A 266Mhz should even be fast enough to get a basic GUI up and running if you're not feeling confident enough. Install X and Xfce :-)

Its not terribly hard to set it up, although I must say Ive never done a Dial-Up server....

I believe you'd use iptables to do this thou. and that's something I _have_ done before.

Install Mandrake with Network Utilities, and I cant remember if it puts Dial-Up utils in a seperate section or not, but put that and Server utils on the PC too and we'll take it from ther e :-)


Chill.
Chilling_Silently (228)
204486 2003-12-31 21:12:00 I run Redhat 8 on a Compaq 333Mhz PII with 128MB RAM and the GUI runs fine for system maintenance. Mandrake has a wizard for sharing your dialup connection (hardware modems/external modems are easier to setup).

You will need SAMBA for the printer sharing and you may choose to have a shared directory on the server for all pc's to access.
Dolby Digital (160)
204487 2004-01-02 20:34:00 A switch will be faster than a hub.
Have a look here
http://www.ipcop.org
Works well for me on a p100, sharing a 56k modem between 2 machines.
rmcb (164)
204488 2004-01-03 23:26:00 this would be quite simple to setup with mandrake, seen as it has all the wizards for you, i would suggests a switch/hub also, a computer of those specs should beable to run a gui fine which will give you access to the mandrake control center (where you can run all the wizards from). sharing your modem is easy, in setup it should find both your lan and network interfaces then once booted simply loadup the internet connection sharing wizard and it will startup shorewall with all nessasary routing done for you, and start a dhcp server so the rest of your lan can have auto assigned ip's, in setup if your printer is supported that should all be installed then too, im not sure how much extra config you will have to do to share it. mark105 (5061)
204489 2004-01-04 00:28:00 Remember the rest of my PC's are running WindowsXP and 2k (Non-believers:-D) hamstar (4)
1