[techtalk] Cablemodems

[Julia Frizzell]

> > > I have one Win98 box at home, one hybrid box (Win98 on one drive, RH
> > > Linux on the other drive), and two Macs (one desktop, one laptop). I
> > > gave up on getting the 486 running as my server because it had too
> > > many issues to get it running properly.
>
>What's the problem with the 486?  My network gateway on the cablemodem
>is a 486SX. ;)

First off, the cable for the floppy drive was gone. (my brother's 
doing, I think). Then, the hard drive isn't recognized, even after 
fixing it in the BIOS to the exact specifications of the drive itself 
(checked all the heads, cylinders, etc. from Western Digital's site). 
Got a cable, and the floppy is still having issues (yes, I tried the 
ribbon in all sorts of configurations). It's also not seeing the 
CD-ROM I installed. So basically, since I've been working off and on 
(mostly off) with this for a few months, and my husband is beginning 
to grouse about the "free" computer costing us a lot of money, I 
decided to go with the P5-150 that I've just got sitting alone 
(pretty much only used when the hubby is using my new P3-450 to play 
Starcraft), I'd use that instead. :)

> > > I have been told that cable modems, via MediaOne-RoadRunner will be
> > > available in October. I have also been told that you can't share the
> > > cable modem currently; it required one hardware address, so plugging
> > > it into my hub is out.
>
>Yes, it's possible to run all your computers using one IP address. =)
>(It's also available in win98SE or if you got all the MS updates, but
>it's just as easy to setup in Linux.)

I do have Win98SE, actually. Been using that to share my connection 
with the other computers for a while now. I will just need to buy 
another network card and install it to make it work. I may end up 
resorting to that, but I'd rather play with Linux. :)

> > > So, I'm planning on using Linux as a server for my connection to the
> > > cable modem, and serving out internal IP to the other computers, to
> > > share the connection.
>
>Read on for my advice. =)
>
> > > I am going to buy today Learning RedHat Linux (though it comes with a
> > > CD-ROM, which I don't need) and Running Linux from books.com. In
> > > fact, since it's taken me so long to type this email, I've already
> > > ordered them. :)
>
>You don't need those books unless you want to learn more general
>information about Linux.  (I recommend at least getting one book though=)

Well, one had some network info (according to the chapter headings) 
and the other had something, which I forget. <sigh> Too late now, 
though, they're already bought!

> > > Has anyone done this sort of cable modem setup at home? Advice,
> > > recommendations, places to go for step-by-step instructions would be
> > > greatly appreciated! I'm very familiar with Win98 and MacOS, but I'm
> > > still learning Linux. And my networking skills aren't that high
> > > either.
>
>The first thing I recommend is asking for a static IP address and then you
>don't really have to worry about setting up your DHCP daemon (which is
>really trivial to setup but it's one less step to do).  The only way
>I know how to get one is telling the Cable company that you've got a win31
>box that you're connecting and you need the static IP address.

Alas, I am going to be given a dynamic IP. Read it in the service 
agreement. I don't know if they'll let me get a static one, but I 
will try.

>The next step is to read the Cablemodem-HOWTO, it should be available
>at the LDP or with the distribution CDs.  It gives a better idea of the
>setup for your particular cablemodem provider.

I'll check when I get home.

>Then, everything is really a matter of knowing how to network your
>machines and using IP Masquerading to share the connection.  Read the
>IP-Masquerading-HOWTO and the IP-Chains-HOWTO (if you're running
>kernel 2.2.x).  IPChains sets up a firewall for you computer... I'd also
>recommend reading the Firewall-HOWTO as well.

Ok. I'm assuming this will all work if I used Linux to dial-up to my 
current provider as well, yes? I may try and test it out that way 
before we enter the cable modem arena.

>Also, if you're setting up your network to stay on the Cablemodem 24/7,
>you need to make sure security is tight on your Gateway.  Unless you're
>running servers (such as ftp, Apache, etc), I'd recommend not installing
>any of those programs on your machine.  I disabled all of them on my
>gateway.

Alas, I did put Apache on, though not FTP. I may reinstall and remove 
it, though. Don't want to get caught serving web pages from the home 
'puter by the cable modem company!

Thanks Beverly!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia Frizzell                        http://www.netspace.org/~glyneth
julia_frizzell at brown.edu                   http://www.theblackroad.org
glyneth at netspace.org                                      ICQ: 8458071
"Now you see the nature of my wife. She giveth from the left hand of
generosity, then puncheth in the face with the right fist of cruel
whimsy." -- Ethan Skemp, on Aileen E. Miles

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