So the big, loud, and free laser printer is now living in the garage with the file server. It's got an ethernet interface and I'd like to bridge dhcp requests from it to the home router, via the server. I'm running Debian. I have the bridge-utils installed and tried the basic settings like this...

# ifconfig eth0 0.0.0.0
# ifconfig eth1 0.0.0.0
# brctl addbr br0
# brctl addif br0 eth0
# brctl addif br0 eth1
# dhclient br0

only to find it removes my ability to access the file server. Am I now supposed to make another virtual device for the file server???

I did read somewhere that when setting up an Ethernet bridge the system acting as the bridge doesn't show up on the network by default... Also if one of your interfaces is a wireless NIC bridging probably wont work.

I will go and see if i can find the tutorial...

Did you try ifup br0?


EDIT:
I found it, look here
look at step 5 in "6.2. Basic Setup"

Hope this helps

ifup did return that the bridge was working. I'll have a look at your link.

thanks

fyi- for those who are noob like me. I had to restart the samba server, and use a real crossover cable to the printer(as opposed to one you thought was, but wasn't).

thanks for the help tjyorkshire