linux router / print server?

Hi - I currently use a win/xp with ICS to share my ADSL internet connection
(via USB modem) on my home network.
I also can establish a vpn to my work LAN over this configuration
I also have a couple of printers (and a scanner) attached to the same
machine... and share the printers via windows.
Hence that one machine acts as an internet server and print server... very
useful and flexible.

Trouble is its not always the most reliable (software wise)... get BSODs a
few times a week.

I was thinking of getting a hardware router... but haven't seen any that
could also act as a print server and accept my USB printers
and USB modem (if I was starting again I wouldn't have got a USB modem ...
but it cam with the broadband package)

I have a couple of old machines (Pentium I & II)... which I've been think of
setting up with IPCOP as a Linux router as
I believe it supports my alcatel USB modem directly? Could it also act as a
print server for my USB printers... I don't
think that there are Linux drivers for one of them... but would this matter
as I would only be accessing the printers from
my windows boxes (i.e. could Linux route the windows printer data
transparently to the printer)?

Any suggestions on how to proceed?
Can anyone point me to some clear documentation on how to setup what I
want???
Or should I just leave it windows based and put up with the reliability?
Thanks
Andy

"andy smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<c5e74u$rlo$(E-Mail Removed)>...
> Hi - I currently use a win/xp with ICS to share my ADSL internet connection
> (via USB modem) on my home network.
> I also can establish a vpn to my work LAN over this configuration
> I also have a couple of printers (and a scanner) attached to the same
> machine... and share the printers via windows.
> Hence that one machine acts as an internet server and print server... very
> useful and flexible.
>
> Trouble is its not always the most reliable (software wise)... get BSODs a
> few times a week.
>
> I was thinking of getting a hardware router... but haven't seen any that
> could also act as a print server and accept my USB printers
> and USB modem (if I was starting again I wouldn't have got a USB modem ...
> but it cam with the broadband package)
>
> I have a couple of old machines (Pentium I & II)... which I've been think of
> setting up with IPCOP as a Linux router as
> I believe it supports my alcatel USB modem directly? Could it also act as a
> print server for my USB printers... I don't
> think that there are Linux drivers for one of them... but would this matter
> as I would only be accessing the printers from
> my windows boxes (i.e. could Linux route the windows printer data
> transparently to the printer)?
>
> Any suggestions on how to proceed?
> Can anyone point me to some clear documentation on how to setup what I
> want???
> Or should I just leave it windows based and put up with the reliability?
> Thanks
> Andy

Have a look at www.e-smith.org The sme server is a linux box that
acts as a email server, intranet server, Basic firewall samba server
and Gateway that can support both usb an lpt printers. Oh yes and its
free.... Mine ticks away happily with a USB canon printer a LPT HP
laser printerand picking email up every 10 minutes. It also creates a
network drive for each account. Its running on at the moment a P200
with 64meg very happily. you will need a ethernet modem or router, But
they are cheaper now than a modem.

Ian

www.cyber-cottage.co.uk
www.bathford-broadband.co.uk

On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 13:55:42 +0000 (UTC), in uk.comp.home-networking
"andy smith" <(E-Mail Removed)> strung together this:

>Hi - I currently use a win/xp with ICS to share my ADSL internet connection
>(via USB modem) on my home network.
>I also can establish a vpn to my work LAN over this configuration
>I also have a couple of printers (and a scanner) attached to the same
>machine... and share the printers via windows.
>Hence that one machine acts as an internet server and print server... very
>useful and flexible.
>
>Trouble is its not always the most reliable (software wise)... get BSODs a
>few times a week.
>
I think that is most likely the USB modem causing the BSODs, not the
functions of the server.

>I was thinking of getting a hardware router... but haven't seen any that
>could also act as a print server and accept my USB printers
>and USB modem (if I was starting again I wouldn't have got a USB modem ...
>but it cam with the broadband package)
>
You would be better of with an ethernet modem, there are some routers
that accept a USB printer, but none will accept a USB modem.

>I have a couple of old machines (Pentium I & II)... which I've been think of
>setting up with IPCOP as a Linux router

Good idea, I've got thatt setup myself and haven't had any problems so
far.

>I believe it supports my alcatel USB modem directly? Could it also act as a
>print server for my USB printers... I don't
>think that there are Linux drivers for one of them... but would this matter
>as I would only be accessing the printers from
>my windows boxes (i.e. could Linux route the windows printer data
>transparently to the printer)?
>
Trouble is, the IPCop package is designed to work as a reliable
firewall, if you start adding extra functions to it you end up
comprimising that reliability. It would still be reliable, more
reliable than an XP box, just not as reliable as it was designed to
be.

>Any suggestions on how to proceed?

I would set up the IPcop box as your firewall, invest a new ethernet
modem and keep the XP box as the print server. Once the USB modem is
removed from the XP box the BSODs will dissapear, or at least return
to their normal frequency!
Using the USB modem with IPCop can be done but USB modems in general
are renowned for being unreliable on any system.

>Can anyone point me to some clear documentation on how to setup what I
>want???

I found all, (or at least most of), the info for setting up the IPcop
box on www.ipcop.org.

>Or should I just leave it windows based and put up with the reliability?

No, there are far better solutions at your disposal, especially if
you've got a machine for the job lying about.
--

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.