Hi, ?I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction on how to setup my home network.

We have:
The router 192.168.1.1
The Server (\\Macgyver) 192.168.1.2
The Clients(Whoa, Marakpc, Sam, Hunter, Ian) Ip by DHCP

I would like:
To host Ventrilo server for internet & LAN games
To host internet & LAN games
Share files off server
Use P2P on Server (DC++ or similar)

We are using Windows Server 2003 @ the mo, but I convinced my flatmates to use Linux so we're all go, I couldn't get DMZ host or Port forwarding going on Server 2003, I was wondering how to do it on Linux so Ventrilo port (3784 or something) can broadcast over the internet so friends can connect to our server.

Also getting samba working so that the clients login @ startup (batch file or something when DHCP happens, so they are logged into the server) so they can enjoy the fruits of P2P files being downloaded.

...and maybe even how to open a secure connection to remotely use DC on the server or a download manager for those over-nighters like game patches

Well, you are covering alot of ground. You do this in 2 parts.. well 3 parts.

Install the services on linux. Know the ports used for each service. Allow the local linux firewall to allow those incoming ports via whatever firewall program or just straight IPtables to your STATIC IP linux server.

Set up port forwarding for you Linux server IP and the application port to the outside within the router. You have to do this for each port forwarded. You don't want to do a range, unless you are hosting a passive FTP server.

The hardest part will be finding the 2 ports(usually) per application service. After that you will just have to worry about your upload bandwidth since you are on ADSL. Asynchronous meaning your upload is probably crap. But, it is what it is. Good luck.

Bro, you are the man! Cheers for replying to my post, I was beginning to think that we would have to stay with Windoze. Do you know what distro is best for servers, and has a small install? We only have 36GB on the server.

Linux distro's hover between 80MB's and can go up to 2.5GB installs- depending on how much crap you decide to add.

What are you serving, and I can take a stab at a distro.

i want to use samba, and ventrilo, and game server, mostly console stuff, except dc++. something that doesn't use gnome, i like kde or xfce or something.

You could really pick any distro, as they all do that. I would probably opt for Suse 9.3, as it has the latest KDE and kernel and will allow samba configuration through KDE's newest interface. It also has a easy firewall setup, or you could disable it entirely since your router is blocking all access except to the ports you are forwarding.

The default install has kde, gnome, xfce, and windowmaker as your choices for a GUI. Suse 9.3 was released yesterday. It has been available for download from other places for a month.

Damn Small Linux is only 50mb

http://iso.linuxquestions.org/distro.php?distro=4

Right on! im getting suse9.3 today!
and what kind of games are you looking and serving or hosting?
just a question..

Thanks and linux rules!

call of duty, battlefield vietnam, neverwinter nights, half life 2 deathmatch, counterstrike source, doom 3, farcry

tried damn small linux, but i dunno, looks to complicated for lil ol' newbie me

play these on your linux box?

or no?

He can serve all that from his box. Sadly, all of these Microsft paid off game company's realize that their software sucks if they have to use a windows server. And realize that Microsoft will drop kick them if they use a clinux client.

So, the brown-nosing hookers like Valve and Blizzard choose the duality of a linux server and windows client. That's a political rant on my part. It irks me to no end since I know it's not a technical problem to have a client, but a CEO bending over for B.Gates.

So, back to topic. BeaverusIV, do you have any more questions?