Hey ok im a newbie to networking so i have no clue on what i have to do here so plz take some time to help a newbie plz

Ok this is what im going to i have a linux machine running Mandrake 8.2 which yes i know sucks but anyways i wnat it to share a connection to windows running windows 98 im going to get a router or a hub which would be the best?? and is ther a way that i can do it so linux wont have to be one incase something happens??? another questions is what software do i need under linux?? thats basicly it for now i was reading a few webpages on google.ca/linux and i just got even more confused

any post will be thankfull

matt3333

and oh just in case this counts for anything i have a apache webserver running thnx

matt3333

someone plz respond basicly what im asking is inorder to share a connection with say a router do i use samba??? or something else?? and if i were to get a hub would i still use samba if yous suppose to use samba??????
this is what i figure is with a hub its basicly like buying a new modem cuz of different ips and with a router its just like spliting the connection cuz with the router u keep the same ip am i right about this???? and if i get a router most of them have a firewall??? will it block off port 80 for my webserver????? plz HELP ME

Matt3333

I am not sure what you want to do on your network.


Do you want to do internet connection sharing or do you want to set up a network so that Windows and Linux can share resources?

just connection but if theres away to do that how would i????? thanx for responding!!

Matt3333

if you have only 2 boxen, you can use an inexpensive crossover cable to connect them. you don't have to have a router or a hub.

are your machines already connected? if so, how? and we can start from there.

ok no there not connected at all. My dad called up our isp and there coming in to put in a router or a hub and we get another ip address for free so and yes i only got 2 boxes which would be the best bet a router or a hub?? and if i were to get these what would i have to use (software wise) so they could share connections maybe files?????
Thnx

matt3333

Connecting to the open internet you'd be better off using a router - it'll keep your LAN nicely separated from the rest of the Internet and provide a firewall function too. However the router will take up one of the two IP addresses - isn't a problem though you just get the router to act as a DHCP server for your computers instead which will give them their own internal IP addresses.

If you use the hub you will be able to use the two IP addresses provided by your ISP but then you'll have to do some more jiggery pokery to make sure the two computers can access each other plus configure firewall settings and all that carry on.

If you are definitely getting one or the other a router would be the better option.

Samba for file sharing on linux,

And for internet connection sharing you shouldn't need any thing else if

a: you have two IP addresses from your ISP and are using a hub

or

b: you are using a router

I'm new to Linux too, and I have to say that the easiest way to get anything done in Linux, is through Webmin..

Get that installed, it comes bundled with Mandrake,
then get a cheapie firewall plugin from their site, I use turtlefirewall.

Configure turtle firewall and named and you are pretty much set.

Webmin has helped me accomplish much including setting up apache, mysql, samba sharing, users, etc etc.

I'd be lost without it

So i should get a router? ok but im running a apache webserver wont this block port 80?? and what if i wanna ssh or ftp is it hard to take down this firewall so to speak??? thats y i was going to get a hub i should ask my ISP for a dhcp router so i can get different ip that would be alot better cuz what if someone tired to ssh me wont the get the other comp???? with out another ip??? Thanx for ur time

Matt3333

FTP and SSH will only be getting directed to the Linux one I assume -
all you do is set up static IP addresses behind the router 192.168.x.x
for each computer. Open the port on the router 21,80 etc and tell the router to forward it to the appropriate internal IP address. The router should be capable of all this. File sharing setup between the computers will be easier.

The easiest way to get them both online though is to use the hub and the two IP addresses.