[olug] OT - Windows network question

Thu Nov 15 21:59:59 UTC 2012

I agree with Justin, 
Use one of those workstations as a firewall.  There are several free linux based firewalls that you setup, some easier than others.  As Justin mentioned, you'll need to add an additional NIC card to the workstation most likely.

I'd leave the cabling, someone might want to use it in the future.

---- Justin Reiners <justin at hotlinesinc.com> wrote: 
I would turn one of those workstations into the firewall. Wireless should
be fine if you don't need speed or wired reliability. That setup would be
an easy task to accomplish. I would go DSL modem>ipcop router>Linksys
wireless router with dhcp disabled>port 1:ipcop router, Port 2: server.

Turn off dhcp in router, and do not use wan port. I would be willing to
give you a hand if need be. Existing cabling can stay, but I would remove
it.

You would need a PCI NIC card for IPCOP router and wireless NICs for
workstations. you could also use Clearos for routing and do samba share/any
services on that.

I think my home setup is a lot more involved (but hey I am a network
administrator, can anything be uncomplicated? :)

But I would go wired if it was me as well. a pxe setup/image server is a
bit overkill for this setup.

On Nov 15, 2012 9:15 AM, "Dan Staehr" <staehrmedia at neb.rr.com> wrote:

> Jason, Sam and all,
>
> I didn't design the network.
>
> The network documentation states DSL modem is setup in Bridge mode with
> the Linksys RVS4000 as the gateway handling the PPoE Authentication.
>
> The volume licenses are for the Office 2007 Suites and the Windows Server.
> It appears the OS for the Workstations, Windows 7 Pro is OEM to each.
>
> The non-profit put together the network as part of a grant project. So all
> of the workstations are the same, Dell Vostro 220s computers.
>
> I don't have details from the non-profit as to whether the systems they
> are planning to sell will be going to another non-profit.
>
> Also, should I go to the trouble to remove the cabling currently in place?
> At least the short runs?
>
> Thanks for your helpful advice, and my apologies for posting in a Linux
> group.
>
> Dan Staehr, President
> Staehr Media Services
> 6117 NW 4th Street
> Lincoln, NE 68521-3774
> 402-440-5869
>
> On 11/15/2012 8:02 AM, Jason N wrote:
>
>> Interesting.  I'm guessing you didn't design their network.
>>
>> So no real firewall eh?  Seem completely outside the norm for today's
>> businesses. OK some might argue that the Linksys is a firewall, and that's
>> true - but it's certainly not anywhere near what a typical small business
>> uses.
>>
>> I would not move to a Wireless DSL modem.  If the current Linksys router
>> does not have wireless built into it, I'd replace it with one that does.
>>  Let the ISP provide internet service, don't let them control your network.
>>
>> You can probably skip the switch, dub the hub for sure!  Assuming 4
>> machines it sounds like you'll have something like the following:
>> DSL - Linksys wireless router - Server on port 1, workstation on port 2
>> and wireless to the remaining devices.
>>
>> Are you sure the workstations OS is volume license?  In an environment
>> this small that seems pretty odd.  I wouldn't be surprised if the server OS
>> and the applications (MS Office) were all volume licenses.  If the
>> Workstations have stickers on them with the name of an OS, you can
>> reinstall that OS on the machine and then sell it with no worries.  If the
>> office has Volume licenses for MS Office, etc don't install those before
>> selling the machine.
>>
>> Volume licenses can be transferred, but it's a pain in the rear.  Also if
>> they are non profit licenses, there are limits to whom you can transfer
>> them to.
>>
>>
>> -Jason
>>
>>
>> ---- Dan Staehr <staehrmedia at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>> Some clarification...
>>
>> Currently the network is a wired setup, with the DSL modem, then a
>> linksys router, a switch and hub..I believe a cross over to the server,
>> a Dell PowerEdge, running VMware Esxi for Base OS, and Windows Server
>> 2008 for the server OS.
>>
>> There have been 8 workstations in the past, but the network will shrink
>> to 3, maybe 4 workstations in the new office location which will be
>> much, much smaller, hence the idea to go wireless rather than wired if
>> possible.
>>
>> I might opt for a wireless DSL modem, but run wired to the server. Thus
>> eliminate the router, will I still need the hub and switch setup?
>>
>> As for the current server shares, I would go in and remove the unused
>> shares.
>>
>> The current machines are on a volume license, but I doubt they can
>> legally be transferred to a new owner, but haven't researched that, so
>> its either nuke the drives of the extra computers and offer them without
>> OS or replace with ubuntu or some other Linux distro.
>>
>> I mainly work with PC's and have set up peer to peer, non-server
>> networks for the most part, with shared internet access. So my server
>> based network experience is limited.
>>
>> Dan Staehr, President
>> Staehr Media Services
>> 6117 NW 4th Street
>> Lincoln, NE 68521-3774
>> 402-440-5869
>>
>> On 11/14/2012 6:27 PM, dashrender at cox.net wrote:
>>
>>> If you are not putting windows back on those machines, you can nuke
>>> them however you want, then install ubuntu.
>>>
>>> As for wireless, if the machines are desktops and don't have wireless
>>> cards in them you will have to purchase either internal or USB
>>> wireless adapters for them.
>>>
>>> If the office is small enough you can probably get away with a linkage
>>> wireless access point.  You should disable DHCP on it and not use the
>>> WAN/Internet port.  Have your windows server provide DHCP to all
>>> client machines.
>>>
>>> What are you using for a firewall?
>>>
>>> You mentioned connecting the DSL to wireless, what did you mean?
>>>
>>> Sent from my HTC smartphone on the Now Network from Sprint!
>>>
>>> ----- Reply message -----
>>> From: "Sheldon, Roger W" <Roger.Sheldon at firstdata.com>
>>> To: "Omaha Linux User Group" <olug at olug.org>, "staehrmedia at neb.rr.com"
>>> <staehrmedia at neb.rr.com>
>>> Subject: [olug] OT - Windows network question
>>> Date: Wed, Nov 14, 2012 5:31 pm
>>>
>>>
>>> Dariks Boot n nuke yeh for sure. As far as wiping the drives and
>>> reusing the license keys on a different machine? Hmmm I don't think
>>> Micro$oft allows this unless you have a volume license key or
>>> something of the sorts. I could be wrong again tho.
>>>
>>> Roger Sheldon
>>> Storage Engineer
>>> wk 402.777.7901
>>> cell 402.889.2585
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: olug-bounces at olug.org [mailto:olug-bounces at olug.org] On Behalf
>>> Of Justin Reiners
>>> Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 4:57 PM
>>> To: staehrmedia at neb.rr.com; Omaha Linux User Group
>>> Subject: Re: [olug] OT - Windows network question
>>>
>>> boot n nuke for the drives, what kind of question do you have about
>>> wireless networking? what distances are we talking?
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Nov 14, 2012 at 4:19 PM, Dan Staehr <staehrmedia at neb.rr.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>  Howdy,
>>>>
>>>> I realize this is a Linux group but I'm sure some of you can probably
>>>> steer me the right direction.
>>>>
>>>> I'm helping out a local non-profit who is moving to a new office. I
>>>> spent the day yesterday documenting their network and workstations.
>>>> They are reducing their network size from 8 machines to 4, including
>>>>
>>> a file server.
>>>
>>>> The server is using Windows Server and VmWare.
>>>> Fortunately all of the workstations and the server are only a couple
>>>> of years old. All of the workstations are Win 7 boxes.
>>>>
>>>> Question is one of configuring their DSL along with server wirelessly,
>>>> since their new office won't be easy to pull wire in. I do plan to
>>>> have a wired connection to at least one of the workstations and to the
>>>> server and router.
>>>>
>>>> Also, for the computers they are planning to sell, what is the easiest
>>>> way to clean the drives, and can the current OS's be reloaded. I'd
>>>> like to clean the drives, and reload them with Ubuntu maybe.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>>
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