Why does my network sharing work after I disable dnsmasq?

mikedia · 03-17-2010, 10:59 PM

I'm sharing the wireless signal (wlan0) on my fedora 12 machine.

However, when the computer starts up I have to execute:

> service dnsmasq stop

Only after this, will the computer share the internet signal (through eth0).

Why is that? Should I uninstall dnsmasq?

I've already removed it from chkconfig:

> chkconfig --del dnsmasq

catkin · 03-19-2010, 01:37 AM

I don't have any immediate ideas about where the problem may be but will ask a few questions which will hopefully clarify the problem.

Are you using dnsmasq as a DHCP server, a DNS lookup service or both?

When you write "I'm sharing the wireless signal (wlan0)" do you mean that other computers on your LAN are connecting to the Internet via wlan0 on this system, that is they are using this system as a gateway?

If so, what have you done to set up this system as a gateway? In particular is there anything in that configuration which is validating the gateway clients?

Please post the output of

Code:

cat /etc/dnsmasq.conf | grep -E -v '^#|^$'
cat /etc/resolv.conf | grep -E -v '^#|^$'
cat /etc/hosts | grep -E -v '^#|^$'
cat /etc/nsswitch.conf | grep -E -v '^#|^$'

If your dnsmasq.conf has an uncommented resolv-file= line please also post similar for the file named on that line.

linuxpyro · 03-19-2010, 08:32 PM

Are you sharing the network via NetworkManager? Dnsmasq is meant to provide name resolution and a DHCP server, which I think NetworkManager does when you tell it you want to share a network interface. My guess is that when they both run they are stepping on each other.

If you are using NetworkManager, and everything works fine, you can probably get by without dnsmasq. You can probably uninstall it if you'd like.

catkin · 03-19-2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxpyro

If you are using NetworkManager, and everything works fine, you can probably get by without dnsmasq. You can probably uninstall it if you'd like.

Ha!

Given a choice between uninstalling one or the other, I'd uninstall NetworkManager unless the computer is frequently connected to different LANs.

linuxpyro · 03-20-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catkin

Ha!

Given a choice between uninstalling one or the other, I'd uninstall NetworkManager unless the computer is frequently connected to different LANs.

NetworkManager might be valuable because it does make it a little easier to setup the wireless. But I guess the real downside of it is that it gets killed when you log out, so it's not the greatest choice for an always-on Internet gateway. Though if he's just setting up an impromptu wireless network NetworkManager's easy enough.