switching between dynamic and static IP on wifi laptop?

Hi, I'm using a laptop to develop a test a web application. That
involves running a private web server (apache/zope).

I have a laptop that runs Linux FC 5. I can configure a static IP for
my wireless NAT at my apartment. However, on the road, I don't know
DNS or gateway information, so it's easier to use DHCP. That sounds
like a problem. It seems to be easier to configure and run my
application with a static IP address.

I envision two scenarios: I want to demonstrate my web application on a
private network or at a conference. Another scenario is working at my
parents' house (where they have a wifi NAT I set up).

In Fedora 5, I'm having problems switching back and forth. For one
thing, at my parents' house, they have a different ISP and have
different DNS entries. At a public wifi network, I have to assume that
DHCP is the default option. (btw, I've had difficulties on FC 5
switching between dynamic and static network configurations).

If I am in a DHCP network, what can I do to simulate a static IP for
the purpose of development/testing?

When I am at my parents' house, I can probably use a static IP, but I
can't connect until I know the DNS servers of my parent's ISP. I'm
assuming I can hardcode the DNS entries on my parents' router. But if
my parents' ISP uses DHCP to assign them a dynamic IP, can I do some
sort of command to figure out what DNS server settings to make when I'm
at their house?

Finally, generally, can I configure apache webserver in a private NAT
with only a host name? How?

rj

rj

On 27 Jun 2006 10:56:54 -0700, idiotprogrammer wrote:
> Hi, I'm using a laptop to develop a test a web application. That
> involves running a private web server (apache/zope).
>
> I have a laptop that runs Linux FC 5. I can configure a static IP for
> my wireless NAT at my apartment. However, on the road, I don't know
> DNS or gateway information, so it's easier to use DHCP. That sounds
> like a problem. It seems to be easier to configure and run my
> application with a static IP address.
>
> I envision two scenarios: I want to demonstrate my web application on a
> private network or at a conference. Another scenario is working at my
> parents' house (where they have a wifi NAT I set up).
>
> In Fedora 5, I'm having problems switching back and forth. For one
> thing, at my parents' house, they have a different ISP and have
> different DNS entries. At a public wifi network, I have to assume that
> DHCP is the default option. (btw, I've had difficulties on FC 5
> switching between dynamic and static network configurations).
>
> If I am in a DHCP network, what can I do to simulate a static IP for
> the purpose of development/testing?
>
> When I am at my parents' house, I can probably use a static IP, but I
> can't connect until I know the DNS servers of my parent's ISP. I'm
> assuming I can hardcode the DNS entries on my parents' router. But if
> my parents' ISP uses DHCP to assign them a dynamic IP, can I do some
> sort of command to figure out what DNS server settings to make when I'm
> at their house?
>
> Finally, generally, can I configure apache webserver in a private NAT
> with only a host name? How?

Are you aware that you can set up different network "profiles" in the
network configuration tool? For example, set up profiles for various
static IP addresses as desired, and a further "dynamic" profile that
uses dhcp. You can then set up grub boot entries with netprofile kernel
parameters and so boot into whichever profile is appropriate.

As for the web server problems, all I can think of is to use a dynamic
name service such as dyndns.org or zoneedit.com with a client such as
ddclient.

Bob T.

Using the Network Manager in FC 5, I can create device profiles.
However, all the devices are associated with DNS/DHCP settings.
Sometimes when I switch to DHCP, it remembers the DNS settings for next
time. But often it does not.

And when I switch private networks, I have to change the DNS settings.

BTW, how would booting into a different kernel allow you to have
different network profiles?

rj


>
> Are you aware that you can set up different network "profiles" in the
> network configuration tool? For example, set up profiles for various
> static IP addresses as desired, and a further "dynamic" profile that
> uses dhcp. You can then set up grub boot entries with netprofile kernel
> parameters and so boot into whichever profile is appropriate.

On 27 Jun 2006 12:30:19 -0700, idiotprogrammer wrote:
> Using the Network Manager in FC 5, I can create device profiles.
> However, all the devices are associated with DNS/DHCP settings.
> Sometimes when I switch to DHCP, it remembers the DNS settings for next
> time. But often it does not.

I don't know if Network Manager is fully developed yet. Just use
system-config-network (as root). Documentation here:

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...-profiles.html

> BTW, how would booting into a different kernel allow you to have
> different network profiles?

It's the same kernel; but the netprofile parameter gets passed on to the
network scripts and determines which profile is used:

http://www.ces.clemson.edu/linux/network_profiles.shtml

>> Are you aware that you can set up different network "profiles" in the
>> network configuration tool? For example, set up profiles for various
>> static IP addresses as desired, and a further "dynamic" profile that
>> uses dhcp. You can then set up grub boot entries with netprofile kernel
>> parameters and so boot into whichever profile is appropriate.
>