I Need Some Network Guidance

I don't know where I should put this, but Mods/higher up prople please move it if needed.

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I want a central computer on my network (consists of one Linux PC, two windows PC's) to store things like My Documents folders, backups and the rest. I want it to act as a firewall for my internet connection. It can run any Linux Distro, or pretty much any Windows version.

What I have right now:

One almost complete computer, with a 1.8Ghz Celeron, 256mb RAM, NO HARD DISK, A motherboard that can only recognise hard drives <40GB.

I also have a spare Socket A mobo, but as I dont have a case/proc for it, quite irrelvant.

What do you reccomend I do to achieve the config I want?

Thanks.
James.

You prolly may just want to buy two HDD's that are ~40Gigs and a NIC then instal whichever os that you want, I feel that Linux is a little more secure than Windows, ettoo.

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

It sounds to me like you might want to set up a domain.

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We have an arcade.

Yes but I'm asking how do I configure this? I need someone to help me along the way.


I've been playing with that idea - would I be able to achieve all of my other aims with a server that is a DC?

yes you would be able to do everything you want to do if you set that pc up as a domain controller.

once you've bought the hardware set one of the HDD as master on the ide and the other as slave (there will be pins along the back of the drive, a molex which is the power connector, the ide cable spot which is really long, then there be a jumper setting look at the manuals or they may have printed on the drives which setting is master and slave) then slide in the nic and attach the screw so it wont fall out. put in the os cd and it will ask you if you want to instal.

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

I know how to build PC's and stuff like that - its more along the lines of setting up the clients and server with my router - would it be:

NET>SERVER>ROUTER>PC's?

Would I be able to log onto the domain using Linux?

How do I set up the firewall?

I think I will use Windows 2k3 Standard - any notes I should be aware of?

oh ok, im truely sorry about that

Net>Router>Server
>Client

you will have the client computer setup so it will have to authinticate(sp) with the server every time you logon you can have a linux server to windows client, I dont think you can get it to run the other way, or would want to.

you can use the built in firewall for your router if it has one, or you can the one that linux has built in or you can use ZA, Norton Firewall, or BlackIce, or any other that you may want, it all depends on what and how you want your ports blocked/monitored

Win 2k03 should be easy to set up thou if you have any question I can see if I can remember any problems I had and I think James knows and some others too.

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!

The only problem with making the server Linux is that you lose your NTFS.

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We have an arcade.

Ohh ****!

I've just realised I don't have any spare plug sockets in the office. I take it its not safe to run 3 computers, TFT screen, router, modem and wireless desktop off of the one plug socket?

Thanks for the help Goober - When I start building the server I'll definately take in your advice.

Uhm.. yeah we do it at the DLP's all the time... but no its not safe we flip the breaker almost every 1/2 hour

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You registered for QuakeCon on April 30, 2008, 6:56 pm. You were # 366 to sign up for QuakeCon!