Linux Mandrake 8 as a server

[andyswork@beci.net]

We are trying to set up a computer shop server using mandrake 8. All other machines are windows based. We got the network up and seeing each other, but are having problems getting internet sharing to work. We are trying to use sambo. I hope we can get it to work, would hate too have to use win2k or xp.

[Ghost_Hacker]

Internet sharing in Linux doesn't use Samba. I would look at the
IPchains or IPtables how-tos for clues about setting up Linux as a firewall using masquerading. ( I don't use Mandrake,but Linux is Linux ;) )


IPchains (http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/IPCHAINS-HOWTO.html)



IPtables (http://www.linuxguruz.org/iptables/howto/iptables-HOWTO.html)



There are many "frontend" programs which claim to make using Linux as a firewall easier, however I find that using the "ip" programs better and easier than most of the frontends.



Hope this helps and good luck with your new shop :)

[Paleo Pete]

Thanks for the info and the links, G_H...as if I don't have enough reading as it is...

I'm not trying to use Samba for internet connection sharing, that's just to get the windows machines onto the network and operational. Mainly it seems, because Windows uses workgroups and Linux does not. From what I've been able to gather so far, Samba basically mediates between the two.

I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I can't seem to get the windows machine to use the existing internet connection on the mandrake server. They can see each other and transfer files, server and both Windows machines can ping all 3 ways, but no internet...I've been wondering if it's related to not having a proper domain name...or not having it set correctly. It's a software problem I'm sure, if it was hardware nothing would connect at all.

To be more specific, it's a software configuration issue, I'm almost positive. I've tried for several days and done a lot of tinkering, but nothing works...any ideas will be appreciated.I'm not sure what information might be helpful, so just ask...

[Ghost_Hacker]

Hey, Pete.


It won't be a workgroup/domain name problem. Internet sharing even on a Windows only network doesn't depend on netbios names like the workgroup name.


I have always setup Linux as a router/firewall using ipchains, but you may be using a front-end program of some sort. Just what steps or program have you used to share the connection? Also are you trying to share an always on connection or a dial-up?

[Paleo Pete]

OK, connection is dial up, no DSL available here as far as I know so far, but I plan to do some more digging and see...

So far, I've just used the Mandrake Control Panel, Network section, and from what it looks like it pretty much automatically configures ICS with no interaction from yours truly. Firewall I'm leaving for later, but will be set up after the connection issue is resolved. If I don't go screaming through the fields blithering about little furry animals and talking mushrooms first...hehe

The Windows machines seem to be on and off, (just 2 and the Linux server as a test network so far) they can all 3 ping each direction most times, and sometinmes the 2 Windows machines can see all 3 in Network Neighborhood, sometimes I get a "Network inaccessible" error message. I had them both browsing the network perfectly when andy posted this thread originally, today they won't cooperate.

None of the machines will, in the end, be able to actually browse the server, no shared files there, it's just the backbone. But it was showing up in Network Neighborhood, with a message saying it was not accessible if we tried to browse it. Which is how it was intended to be. No need for central storage, the other machines will have plenty storage space, we just need to transfer files occasionally.

So this server will be mainly to route the network, share the Internet connection, and act as firewall/security. IP addresses seem to be right, NIC cards are all working, Internet connection works for the server, I'm typing on it now, but can't get the Windows machines to use it.

I've input the IP addresses and used the server IP as gateway, DNS numbers and domain name in the windows Network settings is where I get lost. I've tried the DNS and domain name for ISP, which was recommended by one tutorial, it didn't work. Tried server name and domain suffix for ISP, still no go...

Don't know what to try now, except reading a couple of huge how to sites, which I'm in the process of now. I'm pretty sure my brain should explode by about 3AM...that's been my typical bedtime for about the last week...and of course my biological clock decided it was about time for one of my insomniac spells, so I've been running on about 2-3 hours of sleep for the past week too...and I tell people I do this because I LIKE it... :eek:

[Ghost_Hacker]

Hmmmmm....well, like I said I don't use Mandrake, so I can't help on using their frontend for ICS.

I did note that you said you inputed the IP addresses.However, most ICS software will use DHCP to assign IP information. So make sure the IPs you assign by hand are in the 192.168.x.x. network range. Also make sure you do use the ISP DNS server addresses at each client computer. ICS ,which is really just a frontend for iptables, will forward DNS lookups as long as the forwarding rules are there. It's possible that the rules are being flushed at startup so check that you have configured the Tiny firewall software, which will rewrite the default iptables config. (more info about that can be found at most mandrake troubleshooting sites)



Good Luck :)

[Paleo Pete]

Thanks G_H, I'll have to look up more info on Tiny Firewall...as far as I know it's not supposed to be set up yet, but who knows? IP addresses are in the 192.168.xxx.xxx range, got that part right away. Tried ISPs DNS numbers, but no go so far, something else is not configured right but I can't figure out what.

I'm still digging, but having a bit of a time with it, since I'm totally new to Linux and know very little about networking to begin with. (which is why I rarely try to answer networking questions on the forums...)

Been reading a lot, but it seems most of the tutorials and how-to's don't speak redneck...mostly I think it's greek...once I figure out where all the config files are and how to decipher them I might be able to get a handle on all this...

[Ghost_Hacker]

Hey Pete, I think not setting up tiny is what causes the problem.

A snipit of info I found on a mandrake site:


"8.1 Errata Internet Connection Sharing won't work properly after rebooting the server
Posted by tom on Saturday, September 29 @ 17:00:00 PDT
Problem:
If you set up Internet Connection Sharing from the Mandrake Control Center, it will work in the current session, but the configuration will be lost when rebooting the machine.
This is because the default firewall configuration flushes the forwarding rules set up in the first boot stages. This error occurs only if you didn't set up the 'Tiny Firewall' from the Mandrake Control Center in the previous session.




Solution:
Since the default firewall configuration only removes existing rules, you can simply remove the file invoking this configuration (as 'root'). The command is

rm /etc/sysconfig/iptables

If you have set up the 'Tiny Firewall', this problem won't occur at all."

[ranchdog]

Pete....

Here's a Link to a Step by Step set-up
networking Red Hat Linux and different
flavors of Windows O/S systems.

Maybe something in here that will help
even tho you are using Mandrake. It's
all Linux.

http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/network/linux/samba/1.htm


Pictures Too!!




RD.