Posted on 02/08/2009 3:37:20 PM PST by Tennessee_Bob
Ok - let me go through the basic checklist. Logged in to FR? Check Logged into my computer? Check Logged into the server? Check Tin foil hat? On and locked Large grain of salt available? Check (although I'm cutting down on salt)
I have a small network here at the house. Cable modem into a router, router split into three workstations. I inherited an additional box from a friend, and it's been sitting around for a while, so I figured - heck - let's turn it into a local file/printer/web server. Windows Server 2003 or Home Server are way too expensive, but Ubuntu Server is priced just right. It's free.
However, I'm a newbie to Ubuntu and the whole server process. I figured that the easiest thing to do for now would be to have it as a spur off the network, rather than trying to use it as a gateway. So for now, it'll be sitting behind the router with the other workstations.
What I'd like to do would be to get some advice, some fingers pointed in a good direction, and possibly some I could email with any questions regarding getting this thing done.
Ubuntu is installed. I installed it as a LAMP server, and included SAMBA. What I'd like to do now is get it all up so that the rest of my family can access it. I've installed SSH, and am running Putty from the Windows box so I've got access to the command line. I'm considering installing WebMin - it looks like it might make it easier to admin - but any suggestions (including "Go drink another beer") would be appreciated.
Bump.
You mention that you want the Ubuntu machine to host a web site. Yet you also said the machine was inside your firewall. Do you know how to set up your router to that effect, or would you like some guidance?
dayglored, the new ntfs_ng drivers can read/Write an NTFS partition without trouble.
Do they specify which version(s) of NTFS are supported for write? Microsoft adds features every so often and using different versions of Windows can create problems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntfs#Versions.
Any known limitations?
I wonder if somebody has the same for the Mac?
The intention is to just host it locally, within the firewall itself, rather than going to the outside world. I figure this will give me the opportunity to practice with it, before I do anything like going out to the public.
Question about Ubuntu server though -
I’ve got it up and running the file share ok at this time. I’m curious though as to what it would take to have this machine acting as a gateway between the internet and the home workstations.
Currently, the network is set up as follows - cable modem to router, router feeds the three workstations and the Ubuntu file share.
Can I have it going cable modem to Ubuntu, Ubuntu to the router - router to the workstations? I have two NICS in the Ubuntu box, so one could act as the incoming from the cable modem and the other outgoing to the router.
You’ve already got a router. It has a firewall in it (probably). Why add another gateway?
Fascinating, thanks!
I do note this warning:
After installing ntfs-3g, all NTFS drives will disappear from the "Startup Disk" preference pane. Disabling or uninstalling ntfs-3g brings them back. It seems that this issue can't be solved, but only worked around since the Startup Disk preference pane doesn't recognize file system drivers that are not provided by Apple.But since my BootCamp XP partition is FAT32, not NTFS, I might get away with it. Cool!
This thread is worthless without pics.
Mine doesn't have the IB Consulting on it.
Primarily, because I want the experience in doing it. I want to see what all can be done as far as control over a user's profile, limiting time online, etc.
It's possible, and many people do it. However, since you'd need to configure your own firewall rules, this requires a good understanding of TCP/IP routing and of the iptables command. There are some packages acting as a GUI on top of iptables, but a good understanding of this command is critical to the operation of a gateway. So read up the tutorials on it and experiment, since you have two NICs.
Also, there is one good reason for which you might NOT want to use a PC as a gateway: reliability. A PC has rotating fans and hard drives that make its reliability lower than that of a full solid-state gateway. And when you gateway breaks down, you can't even look online for help!
Me, I use a Linksys WRT54GL router (designed to be easy to hack) and I flashed it with the free DD-WRT linux-based home gateway software, which has an excellent web interface AND a command line. The router has no moving part and can be bought new for less than $50.
If you want to experiment with Linux as a gateway, that's the solution I recommend.
Get yyourself a BIG drive...Seagate’s 1.5 Terabyte was going for $129 a few weeks ago...
I want to do some of this ...Guess I am thinking of haveing a server model...
cable modem to router ...to serverver with an 8 port swich connecting to the other computers and devices....have a printer I want to share...
Allegedly? NTFS read/write in the Linux 2.6 kernel is exactly as guaranteed to work ast NTFS on Windows.
Truthfully, NTFS write support on Ubuntu works just fine.
Good point, although I've lost more power supplies than fans or hard drives.
That's why if you really care you'll install a pair of Soekris boxes. OpenBSD runs on them just fine and it ships with CARP. For about $400 a pair of load balanced, fail-over firewalls with no moving parts.
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