Re: network problems

[Kevin Colby <kevinc grainsystems com>]

This sort of thing will take some time and a fair amount of work and testing.
I must first say that, if possible, it would be better and easier to have
a Linux machine doing the gateway work.  Of course, as you cited hardware
concerns, this may not be possible, though you may end up dedicating a
$1000 Win98 PC to gatewaying rather than buying a new $30 modem.  Simply
working with what you have may not be the most cost-effective solution,
but that's your prerogative.

There are several network design issues with your proposal.  If I understand
correctly, your setup would look like this (turn off variable fonts):

 [Internet]-----[Win98]-----[Linux Firewall]-----[Hub]-----[Private PC#1]
                                                   \
                                                    \------[Private PC#2]


This can be made to work, BUT in this design, there is no protection
afforded to the Win98 gateway by the Linux machine.  The Win98 machine
will need to be independently secured, as it is "outside".  A more
conventional alternative would be:

 [Internet]-----[Linux Firewall]-----[Hub]-----[Win98]
                                       |
                                       |-------[Private PC#2]
                                       |
                                       \-------[Private PC#2]

In the both designs, you will need IP masquerading and forwarding,
as well as IP filtering on the Linux machine.  In the first design
only, you will also need gatewaying software installed on the Win98
machine and you will need to secure it, probably with 3rd party
tools (I am no expert on securing Windows).  How you want to do
this is up to you, but think over the implications.

Regarding Samba, I have no idea what you have been reading.  Samba
is for NT-style printer and file sharing services mainly.  More
recently, it can be used for some NT domain services, but I do
not see how you will utilize this for security.  I would recommend
using it, but only inside the private network, although if the
Win98 machine is outside the firewall, you will not be able to
guarantee secure access from it to Samba inside.

Best of luck in any event.

	- Kevin Colby
	  kevinc grainsystems com



"A. Benjamin" wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> I am a UMUC student majoring in computer studies and have only gain an
> interest in networking over the last year. I have acquired a lot of old
> equipment, computers, etc that I am so eagerly to advance. I am not a novice
> at computers and have gain a valuable amount of knowledge and information
> about networking. I have a small home network, a star topology through a
> hub, with WindowsNT Server, WindowsNT Workstation, Windows 98, Windows 95,
> Linux Mandrake 7.0 and hopefully to add a SparcStation 2 with Solaris OS.
> Getting them to communicate is not a problem. I can browse and view all
> computers, share files, etc. Performance and security is not at the highest
> priority, but later will be. But I have a few inherent problems. The first
> is that I want to utilize all the old equipment I have on hand and not buy
> new equipment. Having said, the old equipment such as modems can't overcome
> the high electrical interferference of a radio tower nearby, thus is
> limiting me two the two device that can, ISDN and Win56K modem. But they are
> in the house and not the basement. All of the computers are in the basement
> networked through a computer (Windows 98 box) in my living room which I use
> the most. I have a 24 hour Internet connection. I want to connect all to the
> computers to the internet through a gateway. The Windows 98 box will be the
> gateway.The Linux box will act as the Web server and firewall to protect my
> provate network and must have a Internet connection via LAN through the
> Windows 98 box. The Linux box would also provide a internet connection gain
> from the Windows 98 box to the rest of the computers mentioned earlier. I do
> not have a router and will use Sambra to provide the first level of defense
> (firewall) in conjuction with another software to share an Internet
> connection on the Windows 98 box. I could move the Linux box upstairs to the
> living room to bypass the Windows 98 box and solve all of my problems, but
> would not perfer that solution. I want to utilized this connection which is
> allowing me to comunicate to you now to provide for the other computers. Is
> there a way?
> 
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