DSL home networking

I have a computer hooked up to Earthlink via DSL.

I am about to buy a new computer, and want to use one as a /gateway/ and
hook up the second as a node on a Local subnet ( 192.168 ).

Earthlink advertises /home networking/ for $9.95. Is this really
necessary?

Can anyone advise me how to set up my first computer as a Linux gateway (
running Fedora RC1 ) and my other computer as a node that would use that
gateway. Isn't it just as simple as making the gateway my _nameserver_
and assigning it a static IP in the 192.168.1 range ???

UseNaut wrote:
> I have a computer hooked up to Earthlink via DSL.
>
> I am about to buy a new computer, and want to use one as a /gateway/ and
> hook up the second as a node on a Local subnet ( 192.168 ).
>
> Earthlink advertises /home networking/ for $9.95. Is this really
> necessary?
>
> Can anyone advise me how to set up my first computer as a Linux gateway (
> running Fedora RC1 ) and my other computer as a node that would use that
> gateway. Isn't it just as simple as making the gateway my _nameserver_
> and assigning it a static IP in the 192.168.1 range ???
>
>

you need the gateway to be more than a gateway in this case. You are
needing NAT and possibly DHCP. I would suggest you simply buy an
"internet router" and be done with it. THey are very cheap nowadays and
that will make it so that you do not always have to have your computer on.

clg

> you need the gateway to be more than a gateway in this case. You are
> needing NAT and possibly DHCP. I would suggest you simply buy an
> "internet router" and be done with it. THey are very cheap nowadays and
> that will make it so that you do not always have to have your computer
on.

If a spare computer is available (even a 486), writing a Coyote Linux
floppy is probably just as easy as the pre-packaged router, and completely
free!

steve

:: I would suggest you simply buy an "internet router" and be done with
:: it. THey are very cheap nowadays and that will make it so that you
:: do not always have to have your computer on.

: "Steve Wolfe" <(E-Mail Removed)>
: If a spare computer is available (even a 486), writing a Coyote Linux
: floppy is probably just as easy as the pre-packaged router, and
: completely free!

That's true.

Except that you'll also need an extra NIC and a switch to get the same
sort of setup you get with a hardware-packaged solution; plus which many
(possibly even most) of the hardware solutions run linux anyways (I knew
formerly-Linksys is having troubles over that very issue onaccounta they
package proprietary code along with).

And then there's the fact that a dedicated box is the size of
a VHS cassette and produces 10 or maybe 20 watts worth of heat,
while your old 486 problably takes maybe 40 times the space
and creates 10 times the heat, and very likely a bunch of fan noise.
Not to mention putting less of a load on your battery backup gear.

So. I agree that a spare 486 can run routing software just as well as
a packaged dedicated box, or better. But you'll need to upgrade it,
often to the point that you save no money (unless you happen to have
spare switches and NICs laying around) and it'll have many times the
volume, power, thermal, and noise footprint.

Of course on the other hand, you can probably get more advanced routing
features if you wanted or needed them; QOS stuff, much more configurable
statefull firewalling, probably more horsepower and/or memory for higher
volume situations, and better expandability if you need to add another
subnet or want to try load balancing two internet connections, or
whatever.

As for myself, since I don't use anything but fairly simple features,
and since I'm sensitive to volume/thermal/noise footprint, and
have/had no spare switches and NICs lying around, I use a little
NAT-plus-DHCP-plus-switch-in-a-teeny-box product. Saves considerable
hassle, for simple situations.


Wayne Throop (E-Mail Removed) http://sheol.org/throopw

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 12:57:34 -0500, Carl
<moc.erawtfosdigir@treblig_tnomal> wrote:


> I would suggest you simply buy an
>"internet router" and be done with it. THey are very cheap nowadays and
>that will make it so that you do not always have to have your computer on.

True, but they're not near as much fun. :-)

Dan