Tips for building a network router/server?

Hey!

I am currently running win2k on a p2 300, using it as a network router (i'm on cable), fileserver and ftp server. I want to convert this box to linux, but i'm a bit uncertain of how to to it.
I need real life suggestions here. I'm not new to linux, i put up a slackware router in my home a couple of years ago, but that was the latest time i put up a linux box, so i'm a bit rusty. I don't run Linux on my personal computer.
I want the computer to route my two other computers on to my cable internet connection. I also want to run an ftp server on it, and preferably a samba sharing.
Can someone point me to a good dist and some good howtos? Or write some good tips here?
What do i need to think about concerning security? What is a good ftp server? Can i import ftp accounts from RaidenFTPD?

Thank you!

Go to http://www.linuxrouter.org there is planty of juicy stuff espacially in their documentation section http://linuxrouter.org/docs.shtml

Use IP Masquerading (NAT) to allow your two computers to share the internet connection of your network router. The IP Masq HOWTO is still relevant, having been updated to include kernel 2.2 and 2.4 as well now:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/IP-Masquerade-HOWTO/index.html


If you're concerned about security - DONT RUN FTP! If you really want to, run a chrooted ftp server instead. I recommend ProFTPD.

Samba sharing is straightforward enough - read the SMB-HOWTO for some hints - it's a bit dated though, but the example config file should sort you out.

naz

Give Smoothwall a look, it's got quite a few bells and whistles and runs on minimal hardware and resources...................

http://www.smoothwall.org/community/get/