Okay, so I recently aquired a copy of Windows Server 2003. I installed it on a test box and it seems nice. But I'm NOT giving up my Linux server - which basically is just a samba file server and I also do IP Masquerading with my dialup. I found myself trying to find a reason to use W2K3 but I can't.
So my question is: What is your home network setup?

I basically have a client network with my Linux box doing as I said before.
(I can't get IP Masquerading and DHCP working together on it - so I use my old Netgear router to hand out IP addys to my other 5 computers since I have to use dialup now)

Depends on what your more comfortable working with. I dont like to say this, but if your able to get DHCP working with IP masquerading in Windows 2003 Server, then I'd say go with that, but depending on your Linux distribution, Linux is usually always snappy and quick. I'd say try your best to get Linux working with both, I have both working with Slackware 9.1 and its working seamlessly. The choice is yours, but my recommendation would be to go with Linux.

I live in a cramped one room apartment with my girlfriend so I have to restrain myself from setting up more computers. I continually change my home setup, but for now it looks like this:

- My current "server": An old Dell laptop with a 6.4GB disk which is almost completely silent (my significant other doesn't even know it's there...I think ). This one is on 24/7 and acts as DHCP server and uses Samba to share files. My firewall routes incoming SSH connections to this box as it's always on. Its main duty except the occasional php/mysql project is actually downloading stuff and providing a means for me to reach my home files from school and work (using ssh and scp). My home "broadband" connection isn't all that fast so it's nice to start a download in the evening and have it *almost* finished the next morning... It runs Debian and I haven't opened the cover for at least 12 months, so I guess you could call it a headless system.

- Three desktops. I'm about to sell one, and one is my main desktop and the other one just arrived from my girlfriend's job (I did some stuff for them ). My main desktop dual boots Windows 2000 (Hey! Games, come on!) and Gentoo while the other runs Debian.

- Two other laptops. I really only use one of them, and that's the computer I use the most (a Thinkpad 600E 366MHz currently running Gentoo). The other one is about to be sold too (Thinkpad 760XD).

Håkan

I'll continue to use my Netgear router to hand out IP addys before stop using my Linux server.
Are you suggesting W2K3 for security reasons? If so what is wrong with using the router to hand them out?

hw-tph,
So you just have a client network also?
I suppose the only *real* reason to have a domain server at home would be purely for experimenting?

I have a real basic home network. A d-link router, a 500mhz machine running RedHat as a file/print server, my laptop dual boots RedHat and XP(for my girlfriend), and my main desktop dual boots Gentoo and RedHat but I haven't booted to RedHat in a while.

The XP isn't JUST for your girlfriend is it? What do you do for games?

I have 5 systems in all.

1 Redhat 9 Linux Firewall/Router Running Iptables (running on an old crapper HP Kayak) in init run level 1. This system has 3 nics. One going to comcast, one going crossover to my DMZ server, and one going to a switch for my secured network. I run NAT, IPtables, and routing on this box. All other services are disabled. This system is invisible to the *real* world.

1 Linux Secured Server with Samba, DHCP, SQL and internal DNS running on an AMD 1GHZ MSI. Just a file/database server with about a terabyte of storage for my *stuff*, and a dhcp/dns server.

1 DMZ Linux Redhat 9 Web/mail/ftp/DNS server running on a P4 ASUS p4c800. My firewall port forwards to this system only.

1 Windows XP Box running on an ASUS P4 ASUS p4c800e-deluxe in my secured network. Hate to say it, but yes, I have one M$ box for gaming:-)

1 HP Compaq Laptop Running Fedora C1. I connect to my secured network via wifi Linksys router performing pass-thorugh dhcp with 128 WEP. This is probably the weak point in my network, albeit you would have to park outside my house to hack me.

I see no reason what-so-ever for a M$ server. They are slow, clunky and insecure( although I would have to say M$ DNS is a bit easier...shhh! don't tell!). The ONLY reason I need a M$ box is gaming. Anything you can do with a M$ server, you can do in linux faster, better and more securely.

I couldn't be happier with my design and would suggest anyone to look into something similar if you are serious about your IT! Just remember to check your logs!;-)

Here is a good site for FW/router design:
http://eressea.pikus.net/~pikus/plug...all/page0.html

I am an addict. Between my wife and I we have 6 computers in the house.

Server --> SuSE 9 file server/proxy/firewall/gateway with three nics (one for the lan, one to the DW6000 satellite controller, and the other to our 802.11 router.

Server II ---> Fedora Core 1 MySQL/Apache/PHP server (for school work)

Desktop --> See below (Also SuSE 9)

Laptop (mine) ---> HP Pavilion ze4230 (dual boot SuSE 9/WinXP)

Laptop (wife) ---> HP Pavilion ze4220 (also dual boot)

media center ---> Red Hat Linux 9 (older k6-II 450)

And yes, despite my 802.11 (internet only) I do have blue cat5 cable strung throughout the house.

Networking is too much fun to stop now...


I too played with Win2003 and all I can say is I am not impressed. It's not worth the money and Win2000 still reigns supreme among MS server OS's.

More to follow after graduation.

pcghost & dubman,
First of all - what is DMZ?

Do you really have so much traffic at home you require more than 1 server?
I also do mysql and php on my linux server (RH8.0) But that is only for intranet use.
(I have a public website too! http://fiveflat.fsranch.com - shameless plug)
Maybe it's possible I don't know the traffic lag I would have because I am sharing a dialup internet connection? - God I wish I could get something better that 56k.

How would any of you suggest I setup my network? Here is what I have:
1. The linux server (of course) Redhat 8.0
I have 2 nics in this but eth1 is currently inactive. Because I am looking for suggestions
and one US Robotics 56k internal modem.
My wife needs XP. For my son, I actually have rh8.0 also on his computer (he's only 2 but I thought I'd get him started early ) He loves kpaint haha
and then my 2 computers.

Oh and also - your thoughts on my setup with the netgear router handing out IP addys??? Should this be a problem?

Yeah it actually is. I can't play any hardcore games on my laptop anyway and as a matter of principle if the game is not released for linux I won't play it.

Needless to say I don't play a lot of games.

DMZ = Demilitarized Zone. This refers to placing the machine outside of the network (outside the firewall protecting the lan).

And yes I do need more than one Linux server of course. :-) The more I set up the more kick*ss my network becomes. Mooohaaahaha..