Networking Advice Please

[dlegros]

This is a question for all your techy IT bods out there...

I have a Windows XP based PC (Home edition) connected to my DSL line by a Speedtouch router running DHCP (allocating 10.0.0.x).

I am adding a Laptop (iBook) connected to the network by Aiport Express.

I am considering resurrecting an old PIII to run as a Linux based file and print server so that both the desktop and laptop can access files and documents.

I am new to networking and Linux, my question (at the moment) is, would I be better leaving the DHCP service on, or switching my internal network to fixed IP addresses?

Any ideas or advice from you knowledgable lovelies would be greatly appreciated.

Ta

Dom

[Fathoms Down]

It won't make much difference to be honest. If you set up a file and print server (don't bother with Linux printing as its pretty poor) then, as long as the other machines know the static IP address of the server then how they get their IP addresses is completely unimportant.

Of course, if you want to do the job properly you could always set up a DCHP server on the file and print server and connect it to a dynamic DNS instance but you'd really have to know what you're doing first. A good project for when you're a bit more Linux savvy though.

[turbanator]

Yep, what Nick said.

My only extra word of advice would be if you were considering wireless, then restrict any dhcp served addresses to known MAC addresses should you opt for a dhcp solution.

r
Paul

[calski]

Hi!

It all depends on how confident you are with Linux and it's configuration. Printing on Linux isn't poor if you're printer is supported as it can run CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) which is well documented and easy to administer if you know what to look for. Also, a lot of the different flavours of Linux run their own print packages, of which some are good, some are bad. I tend to stick to CUPS though. It's a preference thing really - some people I work with just use the OS print service (lp) just fine.

Also, if you want to get started in Linux and consider yourself to be a "newbie", then take a look at www.linuxquestions.org - this forum is superb and there are some excellent people on there who would be all to glad to assist you.

My overall advice though would be to use your PIII to learn linux but set up another machine to be your print and file server for now. Once you've got to grips with how Linux is configured, and you're reasonably confident you can get it to do what you want, then go for it!

The networking side - doesn't really matter. Would recommend the MAC suggestion if you're using Wireless as turbanator said.

If you need any other help or decide to go for the Linux option, feel free to ask any questions!

Kindest regards,

Calski

[Woz]

Just whop 2000 or XP on your P3 system. It will work ok and you can use it as your file/print server. XP Pro supports 10 connections and the home version 5. Might be a bit slow but I run XP on a P3 450 machine quite happily and am typing this on a P3 600 running 2000 Pro.

Linux is fun to play with and stable as hell but if you already have a couple of windows machines then you may as well stick with them. As for DHCP then if you only have the 3 machines then you can stick a simple 192.168.0.* address on each of them as a fixed IP or alternatively there are some free DHCP server utils out there if you want to get one machine to assign them dynamically from a pool.

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by turbanator

My only extra word of advice would be if you were considering wireless, then restrict any dhcp served addresses to known MAC addresses should you opt for a dhcp solution.

I wouldn't bother going that far to be honest. I would limit the MAC access at the wireless access point so you don't have to bother setting it up twice and for the enhanced security. It is also a bit more secure as a half decent hacker can map your network and work out the IP settings if they can connect to your access point (so preventing them from having IP settings won't be much of a problem to them).

[dlegros]

So as a quick summary of the above -

Restrict access to the WAP by MAC filtering,
For now, use a WinXP based server solution (I do have an old P1 I could set up for playing with Linux) then consider moving over.
DHCP doesn't really matter (If I was to think forward, would it be worth switching to fixed IPs?).

I am interested in trying Linux, and would only really have space to set up one box (as either Win or Linux), so wouldn't get the chance to have a one as server and one as plaything) unless...

The current desktop has two user profiles on it (mine and wifey's) will it still run WinXP filesharing if it is on the XP log-on screen, or does it have to be logged onto someone's profile? As I could consider using the current PC as a server "on-the-side" (demand would not be too hogh - just serving to the iBook) then start setting up the Linux box and migrate over to it later.

Does that sound workable?

Woz, I get your point about stickig to what is already there, but in reality I have one WinXP, two Win98 (under the bed ready to be pushed into service as above, but only space for one to run) and the iBook when it finally delivered sometime near February!

Cheers for all the input so far guys

Dom

[P B]

Watch out if you are going to go wireless with the ibook, I have heard a rumor that they don't work with all wireless routers.

Paul

[gunsentry]

Originally Posted by dlegros

The current desktop has two user profiles on it (mine and wifey's) will it still run WinXP filesharing if it is on the XP log-on screen, or does it have to be logged onto someone's profile? Dom

You can still access the box when it is at the logon screen for file & print.
The box will allow access providing the correct credentials are presented with authentication. Username\Password and they are on the same workgroup.

You will need to setup each user account with the required access for your workgroup.

Regards,

Gary.

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by gunsentry

You can still access the box when it is at the logon screen for file & print.
The box will allow access providing the correct credentials are presented with authentication. Username\Password and they are on the same workgroup.

You will need to setup each user account with the required access for your workgroup.

Regards,

Gary.

When networking XP Home (or XP Pro for that matter) in a workgroup configuration the OS uses the guest account for all network authentication. Your guest accounts need to be enabled for this to work. If you want to make it simple give all guest accounts the same password to start off with. Once you have this working you can make it more secure by changing the passwords if you like.

As for DHCP I'd leave it on as your gateway will probably be doing DNS as well as DHCP which means a lot of the hard work to do with name resolution is being done for you.

Hope this helps