Setting up test network to learn network management for linux and windows clients.
 

I am setting up a new Linux box or more if needed, but have questions to how much is to much.....

Currently I have Dual Wan router, with fail safe roll over, providing DHCP, I want to setup a Linux box / boxes to provide DHCP, DNS, DC, SAMBA, LOCAL WEB server(intranet only/not DMZ as I am going to be learning PHP and MariaDB, PROXY(to control who can access internet), and use the router as a gateway to internet.

I have searched for many network setup topologies but I believe I am asking it wrong or maybe I am just not clicking the correct links but I am wondering how many services I should have on one machine?

This is a test network but I want to make it as real to a small business type setup as possible to get better training in network administration/understanding using Linux.

I want to use Slackware as the OS, and the 6 machines I have available to setup are all P4 dual core 2GHz with 2GB ram and I have 4 80GB drives for each as I plan on using software raid, and will be simulating failures and recovery.

What would be the best practice to take on this or what literature on server setups and network layout would you suggest I read?

Thank you for your input as I move from windows to Linux.

From my understanding, your ultimate goal would be to learn PHP and MariaDB, so I guess the setup you have in mind is an overkill. However, If you would like to simulate/test whatever system you would develop, I suggest you segregate development environments with test environments. Ex., setup separate boxes for developing and testing.

I hope I got your question right. :)

First of all, you picked the right distribution to learn; Slackware. The startup scripts are readable and understandable.

As you start adding packages to your linux server(s), remember that www.slackbuilds.org is your friend.

For network management/monitoring, I would suggest looking into cacti and nagios... then pick one. It will be an effort to setup and learn about either one.

Also look into Oracle's VirtualBox. You can setup an entire virtual environment on one computer and save a bunch of electrons.

As to the network layout, that will depend on what specific thing you're learning about; routing/firewalls, LAN services, client configuration, etc.