putting linux in another hard drive in PC with XP box

I have Pnetium 4, Dell PC (came with windows 2000) with XP installed.
256 RAM; 1.3 GHZ. Hard drive (C) is 40GB. Currently I have SyGate
firewall installed for XP. I use Norton AV. Other tools used include
CWShreeder, AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, taken from a suggestion
given in comp.security.

I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD or another hard drive. I
am thinking to get another hard drive and put Linux. I would like to
use linux forInterent as well. I called and learned thet my ISP
(COMCAST) doesn't support Linux and so I have to do configuartion to
get interent connection to Linux. Would it be too complicated?

Q1:
I know that some people have a Linux box with firewall installed which
is then networked to XP box. In that case, XP would not need firewall
to use Interent, right?

Q2:
Since I will have Linux and XP in different hardrives of the same PC,
I believe that I would need firewall installed for both operating
systems, right?


I am not in urgent need to use Interent through Linux (especially
since I would have to learn to configure to get Interent connection
myself since my ISP doesn't support) but I heard that it would be
safer to do so. The main thing is that I need to be able to continue
to learn Linux once my current Linux account from school expires by
March 21. Also, I want to learn using Oracle with Linux aside from
learning with XP.
To download Oracle, I would need Internet connect in Linux too.

Q3:
As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
at home.

If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy (I knwo
the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size SHOULD
i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to use
Oracle with it and also more stuff later...

Q4:
Would ideal situation be getting a used PC from Ebay and get Linux
installed. That way, later I can get Internet connected to it (put
firewall on Linux box) and then network to XP box.

At some point in the future, I plan to use a router before connect any
pc (XP or Linux) directly. to Interent.

[ Nonexistent comp.os.linux newsgroup removed ]
["Followup-To:" header set to comp.os.linux.misc.]
On 4 Feb 2004 11:09:02 -0800, curious staggered into the Black Sun and said:
> I have Pnetium 4, Dell PC I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD
> or another hard drive. I am thinking to get another hard drive and
> put Linux. I would like to use linux for Interent as well.
^^^
That's the network designed for high-speed peer-to-peer communications
between walking sentient trees, right?

> I called and learned thet my ISP (COMCAST) doesn't support Linux and
> so I have to do configuartion to get interent connection to Linux.
> Would it be too complicated?

I have a Comcast cablemodem, and I never needed to do anything special
to use it, just "dhcpcd eth0" on my Linux firewall and everything Just
Worked. A recent thread on the GLLUG mailing list said that changing
the NIC that's plugged in to the cablemodem required nothing more than
powering off the cablemodem for ~5 minutes and plugging the new machine
in. So long as you don't change the cablemodem, you should be OK.

> I know that some people have a Linux box with firewall installed which
> is then networked to XP box. In that case, XP would not need firewall
> to use Interent, right?

If you have your Linux firewall set up properly, 'Doze machines behind
it will be well-protected. Setting up a firewall properly may take a
bit of reading, especially if you need to forward ports to machines
behind the firewall (you'll need to if you want to use Overnet/eDonkey/
Kazaa from your 'Doze machines...)

> Since I will have Linux and XP in different hardrives of the same PC,
> I believe that I would need firewall installed for both operating
> systems, right?

Aye. The most important thing you can do in your Linux system is to
turn off all insecure services (telnet, ftp, rsh) and all services you
don't need (no Apache if you're not running a webserver, no mysql if
you don't need it, no sendmail/qmail/postfix if you don't need a mail
server, etc.) Additional firewalling is helpful, but just turning off
unnecessary services will help decrease security risks a lot.

> since I would have to learn to configure to get Interent connection
> myself since my ISP doesn't support

Comcast's "tech support" is mostly useless anyway. Bugger 'em and run
what you want.

> As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
> at home. If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy
> (I knwo the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size
> SHOULD i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to
> use Oracle with it and also more stuff later...

Hard drives are cheaper than ever. Get something at least 40G so it'll
still be useful as a data dump in a couple of years.

> Would ideal situation be getting a used PC from Ebay and get Linux
> installed? That way, later I can get Internet connected to it (put
> firewall on Linux box) and then network to XP box.

That'd be more expensive. Get another disk and install your favorite
distro, tell it to use DHCP, turn off all unnecessary services, use your
distro's pointy-clicky firewall setup tool, you should be set for Net
access in Linux.

If there's a Linux User Group in your area (there is if you live in a
city with more than ~80,000 people, or near a college) then go to one of
their meetings and ask the folks there any other questions you might
have. HTH,

--
Matt G|There is no Darkness in Eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see
Brainbench MVP for Linux Admin / mail: TRAP + SPAN don't belong
http://www.brainbench.com / Hire me!
-----------------------------/ http://crow202.dyndns.org/~mhgraham/resume

curious wrote:
> I have Pnetium 4, Dell PC (came with windows 2000) with XP installed.
> 256 RAM; 1.3 GHZ. Hard drive (C) is 40GB. Currently I have SyGate
> firewall installed for XP. I use Norton AV. Other tools used include
> CWShreeder, AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, taken from a suggestion
> given in comp.security.
>
> I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD or another hard drive. I

Small DVD drive or big HDD

> am thinking to get another hard drive and put Linux. I would like to
> use linux forInterent as well. I called and learned thet my ISP
> (COMCAST) doesn't support Linux and so I have to do configuartion to
> get interent connection to Linux. Would it be too complicated?

Getting an internet connection in Linux is easy in most distributions
now. The hardest part is getting the (adsl) modem working alright.

If you have a broadband modem, it'd be preferable if it has a network
port to connect to your computer. These are the easiest to setup.

If you have a 56k modem, it'd be preferable if it is an external modem.
These are almost trivial to setup.

Otherwise it can be a bit harder to setup but in most cases workable.

> Q1:
> I know that some people have a Linux box with firewall installed which
> is then networked to XP box. In that case, XP would not need firewall
> to use Interent, right?

That's right. However you'd have to be sure that your firewall on the
Linux box is adequately setup. You can't just think that because Linux
is doing the internet routing all is safe.

Thankfully, some distros like Mandrake make it easy to configure a
firewall - they have a simple firewall panel (that's suitable [read safe
enough] for most people's needs).

> Q2:
> Since I will have Linux and XP in different hardrives of the same PC,
> I believe that I would need firewall installed for both operating
> systems, right?

Initially, you don't need to worry too much about installing a firewall
for your Linux box. It's generally a good idea for the long term though.

> I am not in urgent need to use Interent through Linux (especially
> since I would have to learn to configure to get Interent connection
> myself since my ISP doesn't support) but I heard that it would be
> safer to do so. The main thing is that I need to be able to continue
> to learn Linux once my current Linux account from school expires by
> March 21. Also, I want to learn using Oracle with Linux aside from
> learning with XP.
> To download Oracle, I would need Internet connect in Linux too.

I get a funny feeling that the internet is faster with Linux.

Seriously though, once you are familiar with the workings of Linux you
can secure your box tighter than a thumbscrew. (And possibly make the
internet go faster too. )

> Q3:
> As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
> at home.

Good plan.

> If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy (I knwo
> the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size SHOULD
> i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to use
> Oracle with it and also more stuff later...

It actually depends on what you want to do.

If you just want to get deep down into the internals of a Linux
distribution (and *really* do some learning) then an old 4G HDD should
suffice.

However, for a fuller experience of all the Graphical Applications that
the Linux environment has to offer, you should aim for a 10G HDD (or 20G
one to be on the safe side).

Of course, music and videos take up the same amount of space whatever
the OS, so if you want to be doing this then you should go as big as
your wallet will allow. (250G anyone?)

> Q4:
> Would ideal situation be getting a used PC from Ebay and get Linux
> installed. That way, later I can get Internet connected to it (put
> firewall on Linux box) and then network to XP box.

If you want to do route 1 above, most businesses are throwing away old
computers that Linux would be more than happy to run on. That way, you
can meddle in Linux to your hearts content without worry of losing any
money whilst you're at it.

However, if you want to try things like OpenOffice.org you'll be wanting
a faster computer (at least 500MHz unless you're patient).

> At some point in the future, I plan to use a router before connect any
> pc (XP or Linux) directly. to Interent.

You might be interested in www.smoothwall.org. I have it running on an
old 133MHz Pentium under my stairs, happily protecting my network.

--
Ben M.

----------------
What are Software Patents for?
To protect the small enterprise from bigger companies.

What do Software Patents do?
In its current form, they protect only companies with
big legal departments as they:
a.) Patent everything no matter how general
b.) Sue everybody. Even if the patent can be argued
invalid, small companies can ill-afford the
typical $500k cost of a law-suit (not to mention
years of harassment).

Don't let them take away your right to program
whatever you like. Make a stand on Software Patents
before its too late.

Read about the ongoing battle at http://swpat.ffii.org/
----------------

curious wrote:
> Currently I have SyGate
> firewall installed for XP. I use Norton AV. Other tools used include
> CWShreeder, AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, taken from a suggestion
> given in comp.security.

None of those needed for Linux, yes no firewall either if you are not going
to run any services (as in running it as a plain Home desktop with access
to web, email, ftp, gopher, p2p, etc only as a client).

> I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD or another hard drive. I
> am thinking to get another hard drive and put Linux. I would like to
> use linux forInterent as well. I called and learned thet my ISP
> (COMCAST) doesn't support Linux and so I have to do configuartion to
> get interent connection to Linux. Would it be too complicated?

Do not worry about ISP support for Linux, it is not needed. Worry about your
modem, make sure your modem works under Linux (some of winmodems do not
work under linux) , if you get Broadband Cable you would not have any
problem ( or a real hardware dial-up modem as opposed to softmodems or
winmodems)

> Q1:
> I know that some people have a Linux box with firewall installed which
> is then networked to XP box. In that case, XP would not need firewall
> to use Interent, right?

probably right if your linux box is setup right as a firewall and as a
gateway.

> Q2:
> Since I will have Linux and XP in different hardrives of the same PC,
> I believe that I would need firewall installed for both operating
> systems, right?

right; yes just right. You would not need firewall for XP in case Q1 above
or when not running linux with no services and no XP.


> I am not in urgent need to use Interent through Linux (especially
> since I would have to learn to configure to get Interent connection
> myself since my ISP doesn't support) but I heard that it would be
> safer to do so.

and easier to learn too (say in case if you like to check some Linux guides
or google while playing on your Linux box).

> The main thing is that I need to be able to continue
> to learn Linux once my current Linux account from school expires by
> March 21. Also, I want to learn using Oracle with Linux aside from
> learning with XP.
> To download Oracle, I would need Internet connect in Linux too.

or download it in xp and transfer or copy it to your linux disk or
partition; You can access (read) your windows disk while in Linux, ( I
would not recommand writting to NTFS from Linux yet)

> Q3:
> As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
> at home.
>
> If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy (I knwo
> the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size SHOULD
> i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to use
> Oracle with it and also more stuff later...

for the linux with most everything installed (Home PC stuff)2 or 3 Gigs
should be plenty, plus 1/4 or 1/2 gigs for swap if you have 256 or 512 MB
of memory.

> Q4:
> Would ideal situation be getting a used PC from Ebay and get Linux
> installed. That way, later I can get Internet connected to it (put
> firewall on Linux box) and then network to XP box.

yes, Linux runs happy on older hardware if you stay away form KDE or Gnome
(which come with lots of eye candy and bells and whistles and useless but
pretty fluff)

> At some point in the future, I plan to use a router before connect any
> pc (XP or Linux) directly. to Interent.

good idea;

Welcome to Linux.

I do a dual hard drive setup (a 60 and 80 gig drives) myself, and also have
comcast cable internet. What you can do is create a fat32 partition on the
second drive so you can share files between the two os's. When installing
linux just make sure to install the boot loader to the boot sector on the
first hard drive. I am currently running win2k on my first drive (1
partition) and on the second drive i have a ntfs partition (since i don't
need to share between the two os's i didn't use fat32) and three linux
partitions (/boot, / and a swap partition). All works slick. Just make sure
to set up your internet to use dhcp during the networking so you can use
that cable connection of yours.

--Luke

curious wrote:

> I have Pnetium 4, Dell PC (came with windows 2000) with XP installed.
> 256 RAM; 1.3 GHZ. Hard drive (C) is 40GB. Currently I have SyGate
> firewall installed for XP. I use Norton AV. Other tools used include
> CWShreeder, AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, taken from a suggestion
> given in comp.security.
>
> I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD or another hard drive. I
> am thinking to get another hard drive and put Linux. I would like to
> use linux forInterent as well. I called and learned thet my ISP
> (COMCAST) doesn't support Linux and so I have to do configuartion to
> get interent connection to Linux. Would it be too complicated?
>
> Q1:
> I know that some people have a Linux box with firewall installed which
> is then networked to XP box. In that case, XP would not need firewall
> to use Interent, right?
>
> Q2:
> Since I will have Linux and XP in different hardrives of the same PC,
> I believe that I would need firewall installed for both operating
> systems, right?
>
>
> I am not in urgent need to use Interent through Linux (especially
> since I would have to learn to configure to get Interent connection
> myself since my ISP doesn't support) but I heard that it would be
> safer to do so. The main thing is that I need to be able to continue
> to learn Linux once my current Linux account from school expires by
> March 21. Also, I want to learn using Oracle with Linux aside from
> learning with XP.
> To download Oracle, I would need Internet connect in Linux too.
>
> Q3:
> As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
> at home.
>
> If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy (I knwo
> the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size SHOULD
> i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to use
> Oracle with it and also more stuff later...
>
> Q4:
> Would ideal situation be getting a used PC from Ebay and get Linux
> installed. That way, later I can get Internet connected to it (put
> firewall on Linux box) and then network to XP box.
>
> At some point in the future, I plan to use a router before connect any
> pc (XP or Linux) directly. to Interent.

Ben Measures wrote:
> curious wrote:
>
>> I have Pnetium 4, Dell PC (came with windows 2000) with XP installed.
>> 256 RAM; 1.3 GHZ. Hard drive (C) is 40GB. Currently I have SyGate
>> firewall installed for XP. I use Norton AV. Other tools used include
>> CWShreeder, AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, taken from a suggestion
>> given in comp.security.
>>
>> I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD or another hard drive. I
[Snip]
>> Q3:
>> As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
>> at home.
>
>
> Good plan.
>
>> If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy (I knwo
>> the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size SHOULD
>> i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to use
>> Oracle with it and also more stuff later...
>
>
> It actually depends on what you want to do.
>
> If you just want to get deep down into the internals of a Linux
> distribution (and *really* do some learning) then an old 4G HDD should
> suffice.
>
> However, for a fuller experience of all the Graphical Applications that
> the Linux environment has to offer, you should aim for a 10G HDD (or 20G
> one to be on the safe side).
>
> Of course, music and videos take up the same amount of space whatever
> the OS, so if you want to be doing this then you should go as big as
> your wallet will allow. (250G anyone?)
I've seen 16T some where for something a little short of 10,000 £
can't remember where though
[Snip]

R.Kj.

PS.
sry couldn't help it.

René Kjellerup wrote:
> I've seen 16T some where for something a little short of 10,000 £
> can't remember where though
> [Snip]
>
> R.Kj.
>
> PS.
> sry couldn't help it.

Not as a 3.5" disk though. Unfortunately :'-(

--
Ben M.

----------------
What are Software Patents for?
To protect the small enterprise from bigger companies.

What do Software Patents do?
In its current form, they protect only companies with
big legal departments as they:
a.) Patent everything no matter how general
b.) Sue everybody. Even if the patent can be argued
invalid, small companies can ill-afford the
typical $500k cost of a law-suit (not to mention
years of harassment).

Don't let them take away your right to program
whatever you like. Make a stand on Software Patents
before its too late.

Read about the ongoing battle at http://swpat.ffii.org/
----------------

Ben Measures wrote:
> René Kjellerup wrote:
>
>> I've seen 16T some where for something a little short of 10,000 £
>> can't remember where though
>> [Snip]
>>
>> R.Kj.
>>
>> PS.
>> sry couldn't help it.
>
>
> Not as a 3.5" disk though. Unfortunately :'-(
>

if i'm not mistaken it was in SCSI Raid HotSwap
aren't those babies 3.5" ?
the SCSI disc that is

R.Kj.