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Thread ID: 38945 2003-10-22 20:15:00 Internet Sharing with Mandrake Linux rmcb (164) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
185781 2003-10-22 20:15:00 Will soon be installing Mandrake 9.2 from LinuxShop.co.nz (thanks Daniel)
This will be installed on my computer and also my wifes. Both running Mdk 9.1 now.
I want to be able to network these machines and enable internet sharing.
They both have 3com pci network cards which are detected by 9.1 ok.
These cards have 3 connections on the back, coax, rj45??? and another connector that looks like a joystick port.
What is the best cable to use?? Will it need to be a crossover cable?? (I have a big box of cables here, how do I tell what they are) and what is the max length cable I can use?.
Also will Mandrake automatically set up the network for me when I install 9.2 or will I have to do it manually??.
Both Machines have Modems so will also need to connect to the net as standalone units if the other machine is turned off.
Thanks in advance.
rmcb (164)
185782 2003-10-22 23:11:00 Probably best to use twisted pair - you can either use a crossover cable, an ordinary cable with a crossover adaptor on the end, or a hub.

I would suggest you use a good firewall, for example:
downloads.securityfocus.com

Internet sharing is set up as part of this firewall with this line:

# Enable IP forwarding
echo "1" > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

Set up dial up networking for both machines so you can dial out if the other PC is turned off. Set your default gateways.

Only question in my mind - with the default gateways set, will a dial up connection via the modem ignore this OK?

Hope this helps.

John
JohnD (509)
185783 2003-10-23 00:52:00 Although I have never used it, Mandrake has a wizard type process to setup Internet Sharing . Look under Control Panel .

As an aside, with Internet Sharing with Linux, you can have a Windows machine or even a Mac sharing the connection .
Dolby Digital (160)
185784 2003-10-23 00:52:00 > Also will Mandrake automatically set up the network
> for me when I install 9.2 or will I have to do it
> manually??.

9.1 includes a wizard that set it up fine for me. I'm sure the 9.2 version will be even better.

> Both Machines have Modems so will also need to
> connect to the net as standalone units if the other
> machine is turned off.
> Thanks in advance.

That can be done by setting up connection sharing on both systems. The only thing you should need to change is the IP address of one of the machines (to say, 192.168.0.2) because mandrake will set it to 192.168.0.1 for connection sharing.

It should work ok, but I found using a seperate computer (486) running smoothwall to manage the connection easier. And faster because it can cache for both computers.
bmason (508)
185785 2003-10-23 02:45:00 The three connectors are:

BNC (coax . . . for RG58 cable --- that needs a BNC tee connector and a 50 ohm terminator for each of the two computers, and a ThinNet cable .

RJ45: for twisted pair .

DB15: (like a joystick connector . . . that's the AUI connector, and it needs either a transceiver directly on the connector which converts to RJ45 or BNC, or a "real" Ethernet cable and a vampire tap/tranceiver which goes onto the thick RG-8 coaxial .

Only one of those connectors can be used at once . (So there's no cheating and trying to use the card as a hub . ;-)) If you look (dmesg) for the messages displayed when the cards are detected,m you will see which is selected . You might need a setup programme to change the selection . (Sometimes there is a solid row of 7 or 8 jumpers which can be moved to one side or other of the three rows of lins to choose between BNC and RJ45 . )
Graham L (2)
185786 2003-10-23 07:04:00 Yeah, Smoothwall might be a good idea, got heaps of 486/P1 stuff here...
I understand it will need 1 Modem & 2 Network cards??
Cheers
rmcb (164)
185787 2003-10-23 09:45:00 Either a serial or ISA modem.

Just one network card, and a hub or switch.

Its not possible to use two network cards to replace the hub/switch. In the default install atleast*.

(* Well, one could run in the DMZ, but it would probably be prevented from communicating with the other computer).
bmason (508)
185788 2003-10-23 19:49:00 Thanks Bmason
Do you know of any easy to follow tutorials on the net to help me with this stuff??
Cheers
rmcb (164)
185789 2003-10-23 23:57:00 Smoothwall has some good docs at: smoothwall.org

A 5 port network switch costs ~$60.
bmason (508)
185790 2003-10-25 04:34:00 Thanks for the help people....
Have got a p133 running ipcop & just having a play.
What is best - Hub or Switch??
Should I use DHCP on the ipcop box or not??
Cheers
rmcb (164)
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