[OLUG] {OT}Network questions

[ktb]

That clears up a lot, thanks:)
kent


Phil Brutsche wrote:
> 
> A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way, someone said...
> 
> > I've been playing with two computers networked through a cross over
> > cable.  I've got a P75 I want to set up as a firewall now and start
> > working with IPchains.  I've read through the Ethernet HOWTO and I
> > still have some questions about the hardware.  I've got two NICs that
> > run at 10Mbps.  I need to buy another NIC so I was wondering if there
> > is any reason to purchase one that runs 10/100Mbps?  I mean I will
> > have two computers hooked into the firewall.  For my small system is
> > 100Mbps really needed?
> 
> No, you don't need another NIC unless your internet connection is a cable
> modem or DSL line.  If, for some reason, you do need another NIC, go for
> the 10/100 - these days they seem to be easier to find that an 10Mbps-only
> card, and are generally faster than a 10Mbps card anyway (10/100s are
> typically better designed since they need to get data to the card real
> fast anyway for 100Mbps mode, which has the side effect of speeding up
> 10Mbps connections).
> 
> > I also understand you can use two NICs on your firewall computer one
> > hooked to the internet instead of using a modem.  Would this be faster
> > than hooking up to the net with a modem?  At this point my network won't
> > be hooked up 24-7, basically a dial up.  How does a person hook into a
> > phone line with a NIC given the cables are different?
> 
> That part I think you misunderstood.  This is your network now:
> 
>   -------------                               -------------
>   |           |     Crossover cable           |           |
>   | Linux     |-------------------------------| Another   |
>   | System    |                               | System    |
>   |           |                               | (Windows?)|
>   -------------                               -------------
> 
> Since you want the Linux system to be a firewall, all it needs is *another
> network connection* - a plain 56k modem will work (although be very slow)
> every bit as well as a network connection that uses an ethernet card (like
> a cable modem or a DSL line).  Conceptually, the network would look like
> this:
> 
>                   ---------------     Ethernet          ---------------
>    Internet ------| Linux       |-----------------------| Windows?    |
>                   ---------------                       ---------------
> 
> You _can_ have two NICs in your firewall, but the second NIC would be
> unused if you have a plain modem.
> 
> Basically, you'll have an easier time of this if you forget about "Network
> Interface Card" vs "modem", and think in terms of "network interface"
> (that's all Linux cares about anyway), which applies to NICs as easily as
> it does to modems.
> 
> > As far as the hub goes do you have to set things up under Linux to run
> > a hub? I haven't come across anything that mentions installing a hub
> > or anything.  Does the hub just take care of itself?  Do I have to
> > worry about some hubs not working with Linux?  I'm using D-Link cards
> > and I was thinking I would use one of their cheap hubs.
> 
> No setup is needed what so ever for any operating system to use a hub or a
> switch.  You don't need to worry about an ethernet hub not working with
> Linux, either - they're very dumb devices, and are sometimes called
> repeaters.  This is because they repeat what they see on one port over all
> the other ports.
> 
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Phil Brutsche                                   pbrutsch at creighton.edu
> 
> "There are two things that are infinite; Human stupidity and the
> universe. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
>

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