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Old 05-01-2004, 12:18 AM   #1
lrt2003
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Suggestions for my home network - Linux, other (non-Linux) users, Games, etc.


Hello there!

I have two computers at home. One 1.8ghz, one 600mhz. They are directly connected through a crossover cat 6 cable. I have cable internet and I can get the internet working and can transfer files across them locally in Windows XP (easiest OS to check if everything actually works first - no faults in hardware, etc). The 1.8ghz has an 80gb harddrive and a 12gb harddrive (seperate physical drives), and the 600mhz has a 4gb crappy harddrive about to die.

I have a brother who is Windows XP tainted, and needs it for games like Condition Zero, rally games, Halo, etc... I also enjoy those games, and we LAN it up currently (btw, Condition Zero LAN is possible!! just both create a custom server, then one type in "slist" and get the other computer's IP LAN address, then type "connect [ip]" and there ya go! you can have bots in there too! (smart asses!!) use bot_add_t and bot_add_ct and bot_kick)

anyway, I want to be able to still LAN games, but I want to use Linux for everything else. There seem to be a few issues with playing wmas (crappy quality, works fine on XP) but other than that it seems fine to do everything else in Linux. Problem is I frequently LAN with my brother in games... I also want it to be possible for him to run Windows (a game) while I'm in linux doing work..

I was considering storing all the important stuff on FAT32 partitions, incase Linux craps out.. plus the ability to recover them if they get deleted accidently. Regardless of backups, etc.

My thoughts are: put the 12gb in the 600mhz, as primary. leave the 4gb as slave (for storing non-important, temporary files). put the 80gb in the main comp (1.8ghz).

Set up the Linux 600mhz as the firewall/gateway (the cable internet goes directly into it).. only boot up windows when I want to LAN.. then disable internet defaultly in windows so the insecurities can't be exploited (is just in network connections - disable - enough?) the box will act as a firewall for my windows XP on main computer when playing single player games. I can also use X and browse the internet while my brother plays games on that comp..

Partition Setup: for main comp (80gb): 20gb windows (games, FAT32), 20gb linux (ext3), 20gb personal files (FAT32), 20gb media (for short video clips, music etc) (FAT32)

for 600mhz (12gb + 4gb).. 8gb windows (FAT32, for games), 4gb Linux, 4gb temporary storage space (for non-important stuff).. I ideally want the MOST space for windows for games, as in linux I only want to do simple stuff like browse the net, send emails, and word process (open office though), and edit files (emacs). maybe I could get away with 2-3gb for linux
(fedora core 1 though) I don't want to buy a new harddrive, but I'm open to suggestions...

What does everyone think? Suggestions, improvements, anything?
 
Old 05-03-2004, 03:43 AM   #2
CBlue
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Your post is confusing! You have two computers, why not use one for Linux and one for Windows? Or you can install Windows and LInux on one computer (dual boot) and have just Windows on the other for your brother. Then you can both play lan games with each other through the Windows and you can boot into Linux for your linux programs.

As for hard drive space for the 12gb for your brother's Windows only computer, the 80gb for your Linux and Windows dual boot computer and use the 4gb drive to store files on that you don't need to run programs from.
 
Old 05-03-2004, 02:51 PM   #3
MS3FGX
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I would suggest getting a firewall/router, instead of using one of the machines to do it.
 
Old 05-04-2004, 12:00 PM   #4
CBlue
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That's a great suggestion, MS3FGX.
 
Old 05-06-2004, 04:18 AM   #5
lrt2003
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Thanks for your replies guys.

Why would a dedicated hardware firewall/router be advantageous over one of my machines acting as one? I'm guessing because of security reasons, that the router is using a small dedicated OS with no development tools/never runs X or anything, so it is better in that way. However, what about upgrading the firewall software on it? If this is sole reason, what about a hardened software firewall on my machine? What real difference is there? Could I remove dev tools, and do network installs from the other computer to prevent this? X wouldn't be running 24/7, only now and then for internet browsing and some work.

I kinda want best of both worlds, Linux networked for file transfers and general Linux use. And windows for networked games. Could I hook it up so I can use windows and linux on the internet at the same time, without a hardware router?

I only want to use windows when I need to. I have ut2003 on linux, working fine, so that's a bonus.. but I want to play it with the "fast" computer.. and get better compile & make times and make use of the faster CPU..

however, thanks, it's made me think about it a bit more.. I am currently thinking.. pondering.. w/e!
 
Old 05-06-2004, 09:11 PM   #6
MS3FGX
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Well, there are a few advantages to using a dedicated firewall.

1. Much easier to setup and maintain.

2. More secure, since it is only doing 1 thing and there are no exploitable services running on it.

3. Cheaper than a computer (but you already have a machine, so this doesn't matter too much).

4. Smaller

5. Uses much less electricity than a computer

6. Silent. This might not seem like a big deal, but you try sleeping with a computer on 24/7 in the same room. And older machines are almost always loud.

The Linux machine could be put to much better use as a Linux desktop, instead of a stripped down "slave" to the Windows machine.

You also have to keep in mind that to be online, the firewall must be on. So even if you want to just use the Windows machine to play a game online, you have to run that other machine (if it was setup as a firewall) as well, even if you aren't doing anything on it. So now you would have to run 2 computers to use 1. Big waste of electricity.

Granted setting the Linux machine up as a firewall would be a good learning experience, but trust me, there is plenty of other things you can learn by setting up a Linux desktop. Or even a Linux server. Just because the machine isn't the firewall doesn't mean it can't be a server. You can set it up to be a file or game server.
 
  


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