Re: [SLUG] networking

From: steve szmidt (steve@szmidt.org)
Date: Mon Dec 19 2005 - 00:18:17 EST


On Sunday 18 December 2005 19:59, William Coulter wrote:
> Now that I have gone winbloz free, how do I network my two computers? One
> is called fast and the other is slow. Both are suse 9.3 using kde and I am
> using a linksys router. What do I next?

If you want them networked you need to buy a couple of windows computers...

Hehe, there are a few different ways. But the easy way is to first decide what
kind of a network configuration you need. What network components do you have
now and what do you want to get? You could just pull a network wire between
the two, it would requre a cable with one side being reversed on xmit and
recv (transmit and receive) like a null modem network cable.

You could use a router or a switch, they used to be specific tools but now
they are so hybrid that you can hardly tell them apart.

To share a cable or dsl modem connection you need to have a device that will
pull a network address from the provider. Then provide a couple of ethernet
connections so they can all talk with each other. (That last function is
provided by a switch.) Routers usually have both functions.

    |
[modem] (provides connection to Internet)
    |
 [router] (pulls one IP address via the modem,
    | | and provides internal addresses for your computer(s).
    | | Like 192.168.0.1 These are called non routable addresses as they
  [1] [2] will not be routed across the internet, but are intended for
             internal networks. The function of providing that is called
             Network address translation or NAT. This is a very good thing
             from a security viewpoint.)

1 & 2 = Computer 1 and 2.

You could also use one of your Linux boxes as the router. And hook it up to
the modem, and then provide an internal address for the other. That of course
requires two network connections in the first computer. One to connect to the
modem and one to connect to the 2nd computer.

One of the considerations on being connected to the Internet is security.
A router provides firewall service, but I feel that you can do better than
that with a Linux box as you have a complete control on what you do. Even if
that router indeed is built on Linux. But then you of course need to know how
to do that.

So then you might be best off with the above setup. On the first setup either
computer could be on and be able to reach the Internet. On the 2nd, both have
to be on for the 2nd computer to reach the Internet.

-- 

Steve Szmidt

"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This list is provided as an unmoderated internet service by Networked Knowledge Systems (NKS). Views and opinions expressed in messages posted are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NKS or any of its employees.



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