DSL toram as a server?
Forum: Networking
Topic: DSL toram as a server?
started by: mcrofutt
Posted by mcrofutt on June 11 2006,12:00
Hi all,I'm installing "extended DSL" from our phone company on Monday and would like to use DamnSmallLinux on an old box to act as a router. If I'm not mistaken, I could use the toram setting, connect to the DSL modem,and out to my 2-box home network from there. I have WinXP on one of these, and WinXP + 3 Linux distros on the other. I reckon what I'm asking is, "Has anyone done this?" If so, How well does it work? Ease of set-up,etc.
I'm figuring on needing to install a 2nd NIC on that box, so I guess the rest is gravy?
Thanks in advance fo ANY and ALL advice!
Mark
Posted by ZoOp on June 11 2006,13:51
Hi Mark,I'm not sure to have understood your question well, but I can share my experience with you. I use the new release of DSL from home (behind a router with a physical firewall) and I have two computers at my office, one with DSL 2.3, the other with winxp (because of 2 specific apps which only works with xp...). The two machines with DSL have DSL running toram.
I can access my computers at my office when I'm at home. I access winxp with rdesktop in order for me to work on my xp machine with graphical apps and some other apps for which I need a gui control. On the same way, I can access my dsl-machine with vnc, although I don't like vnc very much (it is very much slower than rdesktop), but I didn't find another alternative until now in order to communicate with my other DSL with visual control.
I also use the betaftpd server of DSL to keep my files at my office accessible from home (I have no experience with web-monkey). Betaftpd does the job very very well (my DSL machine at my office runs since one week without interrupt). I don't like AXY FTP, the ftp-client in the DSL distro, and I prefer to use gftpd which you can have as extension. SSH works well if you need a more secured transfert (I don't). I do the same when I am at my office. I can access my files on my DSL-machine at home with gftpd or using some GUI with vnc. I don't have a permanent IP at home, but I use dyndns which provide me the needed service.
To sum up: everything functions very well, speedy enough (excepted vnc in my opinion), secure and in the long run.
yours
z
Posted by mcrofutt on June 11 2006,15:33
Hi Z,Thanks for the reply!
What I'm attempting here is using DSL as a router/switch I guess. I want the security that Linux has between our network and the "net". I guess what I'm asking is, How to go about connecting it. I'll have a DSL modem,The 2 network workstations, and either a "DSLinux" router/switch or a 5port SOHO switch. I'd MUCH rather set up DSLinux as the switch for it's security. Is this making sense?,,,,,,,,,???
Thanks again,
Mark
Posted by ZoOp on June 11 2006,16:15
Hi Mark, for me, a switch connects multiple devices to the same network segment; a router connects separate network segments together. Yet, I don't know if you can install damn small linux on a switch/on a router, I have no experience in such an installation, but if it is possible, why not. damn small linux will run just toram and secure (you can run it with the option secure) and will be robust for networking. If it is then possible to install damn small linux on your router, then just make a frugal install, test it and report us back your experiences.
Good luck!
yours
z
Posted by mcrofutt on June 12 2006,00:52
Hi again Z,That's precisely what I intend to do. I've got DSL 4.2 So I'll install it to my "router" which is actually an older HP computer that is having some main board problems. One of the memory slots has quit. Won't 256mb run toram fast enough? So I'll get that installed and hook my SOHO switch to it and the network to the switch. Sounds like a MESS,,,LOL I'll get back with the gory details.
Thanks again!
Mark
Posted by ZoOp on June 12 2006,04:45
Hi Mark, I have DSL 2.4 working toram on a laptop with only 256 MB, it works just fine. You also can implement a firewall named rc.firewall which you can download in the appropriate repository; look at the current thread on the forum:
< http://damnsmalllinux.org/cgi-bin....41;st=0 >
Good luck!
yours
z