router + server+ wireless suggestions

Currently have a cable connection to a DI-614+ router supplying home
network (laptop and wired server). Need to begin hosting a website;
would like to run IPCOP on an old 3 NIC PC to provide this and internal
server functions and of course keeping the wireless signal. Any
suggestions on configuring a home network to accomplish this? Thanks
in advance - Bill

Bill wrote:
> Currently have a cable connection to a DI-614+ router supplying home
> network (laptop and wired server). Need to begin hosting a website;
> would like to run IPCOP on an old 3 NIC PC to provide this and internal
> server functions and of course keeping the wireless signal. Any
> suggestions on configuring a home network to accomplish this? Thanks
> in advance - Bill
>

I'm not sure what you mean by "configuring this for a home network" -
there isn't much configuring to do, just plug in cables and go.

That said, ipcop doesn't - and shouldn't - do any other duties than
routing and firewalling.

If you have to combine these, I suggest you take your favourite server
distro and learn how to set up iptables on it.

But - again - you shouldn't really combine firewalling with any other
server functions unless you have no choice.

On Tue, 13 Sep 2005 19:31:20 -0700, Bill wrote:

> Currently have a cable connection to a DI-614+ router supplying home
> network (laptop and wired server). Need to begin hosting a website; would
> like to run IPCOP on an old 3 NIC PC to provide this and internal server
> functions and of course keeping the wireless signal. Any suggestions on
> configuring a home network to accomplish this? Thanks in advance - Bill

Your server doesn't need to do any routing or
firewalling. The DI-614 has all the firewall and routing
capabilities that you need. In fact, it appears to be running it's own
version of linux.

Put your server on your internal network. You don't need 3 nics, only
one. It will need a fixed ip address. Configure your 614 to port
forward port 80 to it.

Install a well know distro on it, and install apache web server. I
personally prefer Debian, but others will give different advice. Ubuntu
is also good, it's Debian based, but is probably easier to install and has
a nice gui.

Dan

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 21:55:19 +0800, Dan N wrote:

> Configure your 614 to port forward
> port 80 to it.

I've just had a closer look at the 614, (I've got a 604). Looks like it
calls port forwarding "virtual servers".

Dan

thanks guys - forgive me for being vague. This is what I am hoping to
do. Yes Dan, I could use the 614 with the virtual server feature.
Wanting to expand my linux skills (and the groups always state that
IPCOP and Shoreline products are better than any hardware
router/firewall) - If thats the case, then I am going to get a low
end PC for the router/firewall with 3 NIC's - one for outside; one for
internal lan; one for DMZ (webserver). Will this work? Secondly, not
wanting to lose the wireless - I am hoping to connect the 614 up to the
internal side to broadcast the signal. I have not checked yet but was
wondering if the router/firewall function of the 614 could be disabled
and just be used as an access point? Thanks - Bill

Bill wrote:

> thanks guys - forgive me for being vague. This is what I am hoping to
> do. Yes Dan, I could use the 614 with the virtual server feature.
> Wanting to expand my linux skills (and the groups always state that
> IPCOP and Shoreline products are better than any hardware
> router/firewall) - If thats the case, then I am going to get a low
> end PC for the router/firewall with 3 NIC's - one for outside; one for
> internal lan; one for DMZ (webserver). Will this work? Secondly, not
> wanting to lose the wireless - I am hoping to connect the 614 up to the
> internal side to broadcast the signal. I have not checked yet but was
> wondering if the router/firewall function of the 614 could be disabled
> and just be used as an access point? Thanks - Bill
>

I should think the D-Link can function solely as an AP, yes.

But you have docs, right ? Read'em

In all fairness to Bill, the docs for these consumer level routers are
pretty limited. I've been trying to figure out (and search for) how to
get a command line terminal into the Dlink 614, and have had no luck.
My understanding is that most of them run some sort of linux. But when
it comes to Advanced Configuration, the help docs don't go into too
much detail. Usually, it's just a PDF for home laptop-newbies to set
up and get going. And honestly, they should provide analagous
terminology with a disclaimer. For example, "virtual servers" should
be translated into networking speak and simply called port forwarding.

On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 07:57:27 -0700, Bill wrote:

> thanks guys - forgive me for being vague. This is what I am hoping to
> do. Yes Dan, I could use the 614 with the virtual server feature. Wanting
> to expand my linux skill
> (and the groups always state that IPCOP and
> Shoreline products are better than any hardware router/firewall)

I'm not so sure I would agree with that. The hardware router/firewall is
pretty safe, reliable and flexible. But wanting to learn about linux is a
good reason to not use one.

I don't know very much about ipcop, but I would probably use a standard
distro like Debian with shorewall.


> If
> thats the case, then I am going to get a low end PC for the
> router/firewall with 3 NIC's - one for outside; one for internal lan; one
> for DMZ (webserver).

> Will this work?

Yes.


>I have not checked yet but was wondering if the
> router/firewall function of the 614 could be disabled and just be used as
> an access point?

I would think so, you'll have to rtfm.

Dan

Dan N wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Sep 2005 07:57:27 -0700, Bill wrote:
>
> > thanks guys - forgive me for being vague. This is what I am hoping to
> > do. Yes Dan, I could use the 614 with the virtual server feature. Wanting
> > to expand my linux skill
> > (and the groups always state that IPCOP and
> > Shoreline products are better than any hardware router/firewall)
>
> I'm not so sure I would agree with that. The hardware router/firewall is
> pretty safe, reliable and flexible. But wanting to learn about linux is a
> good reason to not use one.
>
> I don't know very much about ipcop, but I would probably use a standard
> distro like Debian with shorewall.
>
>
> > If
> > thats the case, then I am going to get a low end PC for the
> > router/firewall with 3 NIC's - one for outside; one for internal lan; one
> > for DMZ (webserver).
>
> > Will this work?
>
> Yes.
>
>
> >I have not checked yet but was wondering if the
> > router/firewall function of the 614 could be disabled and just be used as
> > an access point?
>
> I would think so, you'll have to rtfm.
>
> Dan

After reading all docs for the 614+ ; there is not a word about using
the product in any fashion other than the router/switch/access
point/firewall that this thing will do out of the box. In reading thru
posts on this subject my guess is if we have a PC doing the
routing/firewall; and leave the wan port empty on the 614 - connecting
its lan port to the internal (green) network then perhaps it will serve
as a switch/access point which is the goal here. If I use a distro for
IP tables I am leaning towards Gentoo or Ubuntu. I know Gentoo takes
longer - anyone have experience using either of these as a
router/firewall?