Suggestions on network plan

logosys · 02-14-2006, 04:24 PM

Howdy!
I'm trying to set up a small private network. I have a wireless router (LinkSys WRK54G), 4 desktop computers and 3 laptops. What I want to do is have one of the computers serve as DNS/NIS/NFS server and a gateway. This would have the path go:
Internet->Cable Modem->Server/Gateway->Router->Private Network
My first question is: What issues would this arrangement cause? Secondly, what IP addresses should I assign to the server and router?
Thanks so much for your help!

Finlay · 02-14-2006, 05:02 PM

ok. IMHO
you should plug the router directly into the cable modem.
then plug everything else into it.

then you NAT ports through the router for the server like 80,22,110,143 etc.
if you don't want your router to do dns or dhcp then you can configure it on your server.

logosys · 02-14-2006, 05:20 PM

OK, I can do that. If you don't mind my asking (as I am a newbie), what advantages does plugging the router directly into the modem provide?
Furthermore, is there any way that my server computer can function as a firewall? or would that even be necessary with that configuration? Thanks again.

Finlay · 02-14-2006, 05:45 PM

the wireless router is designed to be a firewall
it will only allow ports through to certain machines if you set it up.
you can put your server first and make it a firewall but then you need to configure your firewall correctly, or you get hacked. also the wireless router wasn't cheap, and if you don't put it first you are only using about 1/3 of its functionality.