Linux Notes
Samba
ISDN
Firewall
Updated
16Mar2006
Linux Setup
Linux goes from strength to strength.Purely to keep the noise down, I now
have a Linux Terminal in my living room using an 'old' 200MHz AMD
processor connecting to an 800MHz server running Fedora Core 1. The system
is extremely quiet - I've slowed the fans down in the 'terminal', plus I can log in from
several places and have exactly the same configuration. All I need now
is a silent keyboard!.
Visit the Linux Terminal Server project
for more details.
I am fortunate to have a job working with Linux and Unix® systems - plus a few Windows desktops.
These pages provide information to help you set up a Linux system. They are based on my experiences with RedHat 5.2 through to Fedora Core 4.
My target in these pages is to set up a Linux server to provide the following services for a network:
-
'dial-on-demand' ISDN access to the Internet
-
to send and receive e-mails for a number of users,
-
to provide file and print services
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to use a modem to access a remote system (another Linux machine or an ISP)
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implement a firewall to help keep out intruders
-
uses Class C IP numbers - 192.168.1.0 etc.
In general I show the command line approach as it is the most reliable. I have had bad experiences with things like 'linuxconf' although that no longer seems to be part of the RedHat distribution. Use the KDE tools, in particular "User Manager" for maintaining user accounts.
If you are going to have Windows and Linux system on the same network you will need Samba.
Correctly configuring Samba to answer Windows browsing queries will help to reduce unwanted dial-outs. See the Samba section for details
Some people try to compare Linux with Windows95/98. This is missing the point in that Linux can provide all the features of a server operating system and therefore should be compared with Windows NT/Win2k/WinXP or similar.
The desktop aspects of Linux have
improved to the point where Linux is certainly a practical solution for
a low cost desktop for the majority of users. OpenOffice.org provides
more than most people could need for "productivity" software. KMail
provides an email client that doesn't suffer virus problems and with
GNUpg can provide end to end encrypted messaging.
Linux on the desktops/laptops would also mean they can be supported
remotely to upgrade software, or help diagnose a problem. Upgrading
application software would not need a reboot.
Networking
If you want to learn about networking then a Linux system is what you need. You will be able to use your knowledge in a Windows environment as well. See the Samba package info in particular. It doesn't work the other way around!I have a Wireless Access point for home use - using a Linux server to provide connectivity for a Laptop running Microsoft Windows XP. Only costs involved were the Wireless network cards - Netgear MA311 PCI card in the server and a Netgear WG511 in the Laptop. Software is from hostap.epitest.fi
If you fancy a ready configured server for home or business use, with all the networking fiddly bits sorted for you, the InfoSea Home Server from Infocentrality is worth looking at. It is also very small and very quiet. A range of Office Servers are available.
At work I have configured a VPN gateway to allow secure remote
connections for a number of our staff. Uses FreeSwan for Linux
and patches from SuperFreeSwan to use X509 certificates to
interoperate with the inbuilt IPSec software on Windows 2000 and XP.
The Windows systems are configured using an MMC from Marcus Mueller.
The X509 certificates were created in-house using OpenSSL
If you are looking for packages and my links do not work then search on freshmeat.net or go to www.linux.org.uk, or use the incredible Google which also uses Linux systems.