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What Hardware is Needed?? (Setup Linux + Win98 DSL network)

I've just got an earthlink DSL running with Win98. The DSL modem that Earthlink provided has 2 connections on the back. One that goes to the phone line, the other goes to 10/100 on my port replicator.

I have another desktop computer that has a 10/100 LAN card (it's linux compatible, but never tried it).
It doesn't have any OS at this moment, but I plan to install SUSE 7.1 when it has been released.

I want:
My linux machine can share the DSL connection with my Win98 machine.
My linux machine can access my win98 machine's files and vice versa
Both machines can share a printer (NEC Superscript laser 1400)
 
Since I am very new w/ networking stuff, I want to know what other hardware I might need to buy?
Hub?  Is there a hub with very few ethernet jack? Just curious because I never saw one. I always saw a hub that can connect 5 to 10 computers. I only need to connect 3 computers at most.
Cable?
Any recommendation which brand, where to buy? How much will it cost?
And I also need to know the step by step of the installation.

Thanks.
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sevenj

Your plan is very possibly implemented.

- My linux machine can share the DSL connection with my Win98 machine.

You have many methods to make it. You can pick up any from these solutions.
1. If you have win98 second edition, you can go to Control Panel-> Add/ Remove Program-> Windows Setup-> Internet Tools-> Details-> Select Internet Connection Sharing... This function enables NAT (Network Address Translation). It'll help you to share internet connection easily.

2. Install some proxy software. It's more secured. You can download from one of
http://www.winproxy.com
http://www.wingate.com
http://www.winroute.com
But these are trial version for 30 days before you buy it.

Actually, if you connect you DSL into your linux box, then let linux to forward/ share internet connection to other machines (either linux or windows), linux system will give you more easier management and best connection performance.

You can do like this.
1. Install Linux onto your machine, which connects to DSL modem permenantly. If you don't know how to install/ partition linux, please let me know, I'll help you for that.
2. Install DSL linux driver.
3. Enable IPMASQURADING in linux. (In RedHat 6.2, this is default configuration) (I have 4 machines at home, one dedicatedly connect to ADSL modem and internet parmenantly, only Linux, as a router. Other 3 machines contain both Linux and Windows. I used to telnet to linux router machine for controlling...
It's the easy as you do in windows machine.


- My linux machine can access my win98 machine's files and vice versa

You have to enable network sharing in win98. Suggest you use windows nt or 2000. This function is default. In your linux box, you can do:
#mount <windows_box_hostname_or_IP>:/<shared_folder_name> /mnt
#cd /mnt
That's the shared folder.

- For your printer, it depends where you connect it. Onto Win98 or Linux?

Have fun in Linux.
In my answers, item 2- Install some proxy software... the URL should be seperated. I typed thru Opera on Linux. Don't know why it results like that... :-)
You should buy a 4 ports ethernet RJ45 hub and 4 cat-5 RJ45 cables. Hub-> $30, Cable-> $5 each. USB port hub is not recommended.

You need at least 3 ethernet network cards. 2 for the machine connecting to internet (one for internet connecting to DSL modem, one for intranet to hub). 1 for second machine to hub... The cheapest 10baseT ethernet card costs about $20- $30. Make sure it supports Linux when buying that.

You'll take sometime to do networking, cabling, configuring, ... But it's fun.
All you really need:

1. 10BaseT ethernet card for linux->DSL connection with proper cable. Most DSL install kits come with a cable. My favorite for the card is a 3c509 but NE2000 clones work fine. You don't need a fancy high speed card since the DSL won't go over 1.5Mbs

2. A crossover cable to connect the 10/100BaseT port replicator (notebook computer?) to the 10/100BaseT card in the linux box. You could use a small hub but you don't need one until you add another computer or network device.

3. A cable to connect the printer to the linux box.

So what you will have in the way of physical connections is:

|DSL Modem|--->|10BaseT Linux Box 10/100BaseT|--->|win98|
                            |
                            |----->|printer|

The printer will be connected to the linux box lpt port. All internet traffic will go thru the linux machine.

Configure the linux machine with ipmasquerade www.ipmasq.cjb.net for the internet traffic forwarding and samba www.samba.org to allow windows networking. Both of these packages come with most distrbutions, the links are for the howto's. Set the 10BaseT card IP address, netmask and gateway to the settings earthlink provided. Set the 10/100BaseT card to 192.168.0.1 (private IP address). Attach and set up the printer. If you have to use a filter to print in linux, set a non-filtered version of the printer for the win98 machine to use.

Configure the win98 machine for:

1. Client for microsoft networking.

2. IP address 192.168.0.2 Netmask 255.255.255.0

3. Gateway 192.168.0.1

4. DNS - use the numbers earthlink gave you.

5. Redirect the NEC printer to the non-filtered printer share on the linux machine. (printers, properties, details, add port) \\linuxmachinename\printername

BE SURE to set up a user and password on the linux machine and use THAT username and password to log onto windows.

Best of luck. Let me know how it goes!
Avatar of screwdriver

ASKER

So, it's more recommended to connect the dsl service in linux machine, and enable IP Masquarade to share the internet connection w/ Win98 machine?

sevenj, I don't understand this:

You need at least 3 ethernet network cards. 2 for the machine connecting to internet (one for internet  connecting to DSL modem, one for intranet to hub). 1 for second machine to hub...

- I was thinking that I only need 2 ethernet network cards & 1 hub. The dsl modem is connected to hub, and both network cards connected to hub as well. So, is this wrong?

Right now I have 3 nic cards (for my laptop I have one built-in on the port replicator & 1 pcmcia nic card, and for my desktop pc I have a pci ethernet card). My laptop runs win98, and my desktop pc runs linux. So, I guess the best option for me right now without buying more hardware is to use my laptop (runs win98) directly connected to dsl internet, right? Then I can't use IP Masquarade.

lewisg, my ethernet cards only have 1 jack, so I guess I can't use your solution, and I need to buy a small hub. Right?

>lewisg, my ethernet cards only have 1 jack, so I guess I >can't use your solution, and I need to buy
>a small hub. Right?

No. Look at the drawing. The linux machine has two network cards in it.

The DSL modem is connected to a 10BaseT NIC in your linux box. The win98 laptop port replicator 10/100 NIC connected to a 10/100BaseT NIC in the linux box.

All you need to obtain is one NIC (cheap 10BaseT) and one crossover cable (pairs 2&3 swapped).
Per your question, how many NICs should you have?

If you wish to share internet connection, you have to have 2 NICs in one machine, which connects to internet.

If you connect your desktop with DSL (DSL needs one NIC), you have to have another NIC to connect to your local network.

If you connect your laptop with DSL (one PCMCIA NIC connects to DSL), you should have another PCMCIA NIC connect to your local network.

No matter which above you'd select, you should have total 3 NIC cards for your 2 PCs at home.

You can NOT connect DSL directly to your hub. DSL has to connect to a NIC. Below is the data flow diagram. That's why you have to have 3 NICs (one of them might be PCMCIA in laptop)

Have fun in Linux.

Internet-> DSL-> NIC1(in machine A)-> NIC2(in machine A)-> Hub-> NIC1(in machine B)

Between NIC1 and NIC2 in machine A, IPMASQ works.

By the way, here is an example and workable IP assignment.
NIC1 in A: 10.1.1.1 <- a new IP would be assigned from your ISP when connecting internet.
NIC2 in A: 192.168.1.1 <- this is gateway IP also.
NIC1 in B: 192.168.1.2 <- assign 192.168.1.1 as gateway.

Note: IPs of NIC1 and NIC2 in A could not be in same segment, because IP could not be forwarded within same segment.

If you don't want to buy anything, you can use either desktop (linux) or laptop (98) to connect DSL, then go to internet.

------------------

You do need a hub.
1. this is cheap. 10baseT costs only $30. 10/100 hub costs $70- $100.

2. a 4 ports hub will bring you expandable network. You can hook up any additional desktop/ laptop (with NIC) onto your home network up to 4 machines.

3. easy to manage. You don't have to change the cable. Leave the cable as RJ45 standard. Lewisg's crossover cable is workable. But the most computers you can have in this kind network is only 2. You can't hook up any additional machine.

4. If you select 100MB hub, as Lewisg said, it will not benefit with DSL (going to internet), because DSL is only 1.5Mbps. But within your homenetwork, the data transfer speed can reach up to 100MB. Of course, all NICs are required to support 100MB at the same time. At my home, I use 10MB. I think it's enough for home network workload.

------------------

For IPMASQ, I strongly recommend you to connect your desktop to DSL with Linux. It's stable, easy managerable, secured, etc. (you should have 2 NICs in this machine)

For how-to IPMASQ, you can follow the document of howto_ipmasq provided in linux. You can find it from Documentation and Reference. Or I can give you step-by-step info if you need.

RedHat should enable IPMASQ default. You can try.

1. Assign IPs like I mentioned. IPs for 3 NICs, gateway IP, DNS<- as Lewisg mentioned, this should be provided by your ISP.

2. Start DSL connection.

3. From machine B, ping machine A's NIC1 IP, NIC2 IP, PPPoE IP, one internet IP (like 152.19.254.81), then ping www.yahoo.com

You have to find a driver for DSL in Linux and install before doing above. I don't think EarthLink provides that. I use Sympatico. I found Linux ADSL driver from http://www.sympaticousers.org - I use Alcatel modem. Different modem requires different driver. The general driver is named PPPoE.

Have fun in linux.
>You do need a hub.

Why? To connect two PC's together a crossover cable works just fine until he needs to expand.

>You have to find a driver for DSL in Linux and install before doing above.

Linux DSL driver? The DSL modem he is describing has a 10BaseT connection. The only issue is how Earthlink is configuring the connection. The possibilities are a fixed IP address, DHCP or PPoE. None of which require a "driver".

>I strongly recommend you to connect your desktop to DSL with Linux.
>It's stable, easy managerable,
secured, etc. (you should have 2 NICs in this machine)

ABSOLUTLY!
It sounds like you are very new at this, and running Linux will be a HUGE step up from were you are now. If you do not understande base networking concepts, setting up the network you described will be a difficult challenge. But to get you started this is all you will need...

Linksys Instant Broadband EtherFast Cable/DSL Router
Part#: BEFSR41

This router will give you EVERYTHING you NEED to get up to 4 machines running on ou DSL connection. They go for about $130 - $150. The documentation speeks for itself.

You will need a network card for each machine on your network... period. It does not really matter what kind. Just get one that works with your machine and operating systems (for 100% compatablity with linux get a 3com 3c905).

Again the Linksys documentation is perfect! It walks you through everything step-by-step.
Yeah, EarthLink maybe provides a fixed IP. That would be easier. Just plug in. If they provides PPPoE protocol, you need install a PPPoE driver. You have to investigate. The fixed IP is much easy...

To Lewisg, I never deny cross pair cable doesn't work. It works. From my point of view, I never think that's a network solution. Again, it works. But does the cheapest hub only cost $30?

Have fun and take it easy.

You don't have to do IPMASQ if you go JPWhite's solution. At my home, I configured a 486/75 Linux laptop as router to connect to internet. Never shutdown.

Have fun.
Linksys router - A fine solution but if you want to learn linux networking...

$30 hubs - I have paid as little as $10 for a 5 port hub but screwdriver dosen't NEED one. Would it be nice, yes but it will cost extra $$ for the hub and a extra cable and a place to plug in yet another power supply. If 100BaseT is desired even more $$$.

Along the lines of the Linksys box I was thinking of the various floppy based linux routers like:

www.sharethenet.com
www.fresco.org
lrp.c0wz.com

But all the info I can find about Earthlink DSL seems to indicate that they use the wretched PPPoE protocol. So you only desirable linux solution appears to be installing a recent distro (I recommend RedHat for beginners) and installing the following client:

http://www.roaringpenguin.com/pppoe/

to enable PPPoE. The rest of my advice still stands. Set up the linux box between the DSL modem and your win9x laptop. Connect the printer to the linux box. Both Samba and IPChains are easy to include in a RH7 install. All you will need is a smb.conf and a rc.firewall script.

Please let me know if I can be of any more assistance.
well, I just found out that Earthlink is using pppoe, and actually I can download the client for linux at http://download.mindspring.com/maxdsl/pppoe_linux.html.
Some people is suggesting me to use http://www.roaringpenguin.com/pppoe/
Right now I can't do anything because I want to try using Suse 7.1 and  I'm waiting for the iso now.
Speaking of linux, i was a quite old linux user, was using redhat for 2 yrs before switching back to windows (for me gnucash, applix, abiword, staroffice, koffice can't replace quicken & ms office. And I don't like using vmware or do dual boot ).
I tried ip masq before, when connecting win98 from vmware to linux. So, I don't think I will get much problem configuring ip masq.
The only challenge right now is setting up earthlink dsl in my linux box and getting understand the concept of the hardware for home networking. Previously I didn't understand at all about hub, router, etc.. but I think right now I am starting to understand. Thanks a lot guys!!!
Once I have successfully set up everything, I'll let you guys know.. and I hope this can be a good step by step tutorial for Earthlink dsl users who want to use linux. They don't provide support for linux.

I think I'll choose to use desktop pc (linux) as a host, and then use ip masq to share the internet connection w/ my laptop. So, I'll buy a pci nic card and sell my pcmcia nic. Anyone interested in buying my pcmcial nic card? :)
Have fun in Linux.
screwdriver,

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