Looking for contributors to build mini-Linux Network

[Patrick]

For a network, switches are the way to go. (The vendor was right in
telling you to buy switches).  The difference between the two is that if
a computer sends a network packet to a hub is will forward that packet
on to every computer to get the packet to its destination.  On a large
network with several PCs this can be counter productive since each
machine needs to wait to send the packet if there is a collision.  A
switch on the other hand will look at the destination of the packet and
forward it to the correct port so the packet does not go to every PC.
This is ideal for large networks, and it also allows for full-duplex
mode.

For modems and Linux, linux will use a hardware modem with ease, but
with newer modems they are mostly referred to as Winmodems because they
use software drivers to run the modem, which the same drivers will not
work with linux.  I think lucent or another company has some software
drivers for those modems, but since I do not use any winmodems I have
not dealt with that problem.

As far as running linux on the PCs it is a matter of personal choice
what Distro you use.  I would however suggest NOT to use redhat 7.0 that
version is very buggy especially gcc if you plan to compile software.
If you want to use redhats linux, either use the redhat 5.0 you have or
get a copy of redhat 7.1

As a caution on the distro you use on your PCs, if you use a newer
distro you will want 64Mb or more of ram if you plan to run Xwindows
with Gnome or KDE, other wise 32Mb of ram should work for redhat 5.0 or
other older distros.

As far as the Amiga's I have not worked with them, but I would assume
that you could add a network card to them.

Hope that helps

Patrick Gunerud

Choon Kiat Lim wrote:

>  Dear Linux Friends,
>   I'm quite a new person in Linux (about 1.5 years)
> and has just join the Samba group. However I have
> about 15 years of experience with various PCs such
> as Amgia, Apple and Windows based PCs, as well as
> good knowledge of C and Windows-based languages.
> (I've not use LISP and Prolog since I left school.)
>   Currently I'm moving to a new house and
> hope to take the opportunity to build a mini-
> Linux network conducive for researches inside.
>   At this point of time, I've successfully build Samba
> servers but still research primarily from Windows-based
> workstations. Hence I hope someone can help me
> improve my Linux networking skills further.
>   I list all the PCs I have toward the end of this note,
> and hope to gather advices on the following:
> Basing on all the equipment I have,
>   (A) Propose your view of an optimal network.
>   (B) (briefly) how to build it and the advantages.
> [briefly because I'll obtain the details from you after I
> compile the knowledge from contributors]
>   (C) Do I need to add new hardware? if so what?
>   The computers I have are as follows:
> 4 Pentium 166/200 Mhz PCs,
> all with at least 32MB RAM and a good size
> hard disk and CD ROM (1 Ethernet each)
> 1 Pentium III-800 MHz PC with 256MB RAM,
> 64GB Hard Disk and 48X CDROM and
> 2 Ethernet cards
> I'm using external 56kbps modems (2 pieces)
> 2 Pentium-166 Notebooks with PCMCIA
> modems and PCMCIA Ethernet Cards.
> (roaming around always)
> 1 HP Pentium III-600 Notebook with
> 64MB RAM and DVD-ROM,
> build-in modem and build-in Ethernet.
> (However, I'm not able to get
> Linux to detect the build-in modem &
> Ethernet device. Can someone help?
> HP model: F2301-12006 XE3)
> I'm using 2 switches (I was told by the
> Vendor when I first learn Linux
> networking that switches are
> better than hubs. Did I get con?)
> 1 Amgia 1200
> 1 Amiga 500 with Hard disk (20MB)
> 1 Amiga 500 with three floppy drives
> 1 Amiga 2000 with two floppy drives
> (sadly, all my Amigas has no network cards.
> Is there any way to link them up also?)
> In terms of Software, I have in my collection
> Red-Hat Linux 5 & 7, SuSE 6.4 and Mandrake 7.2
> Licences for Windows ME, 98 and 95 as well as
> Amigs OS
> Thank a lot for reading
> Lim Choon Kiat
> lck at SingCorp.com
> (Self-learner)
> Singapore
>
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