Linux Networking Advice Needed

[Computer Hobbyist]

I want to allow my Linux box to use printers tied to windows machines on my home network which is not currently tied to a server, but instead uses Windows 9X printer and file sharing. I am presuming that Samba will let me reconfigure to hook my windows machines to my Linux box allowing me to use the printers tied to the windows machines and allowing the windows machines and the Linux box to share files. Am I right? Is there another application more modern?

Also, I am getting thinking about shifting my proxy server from Windows to Linux. What software should I use for a dial-up connection? It needs to act on demand like Windows Internet Connection or Wingate. What if I go broadband?

Next, I have one of the O'Reilly books, but it seems to be very linear and somewhat limited. I need a resourse that's more modular. Are there any good Linux books out there?

Next,I need to know what browser works best with Linux. My copy came with an old version of Netscape, but I am sure there are better and newer browsers available. As I said before, as a learning tool, I am using Red Hat 6.0. It works best with the old hardware I am now employing, but it seems to be buggy. For example, while it says that you can set up your box for dhcp it seems to demand you assign your machine a static IP address. Actually, it will work with dhcp, but it gives me an error message.

I have ordered a larger harddrive (20 Gig IBM) and a new motherboard and processor (FIC and K-6 500) which when installed in my old AT box should be able to handle a more modern release. So I am looking for a newer distribution. I am not excited about some of the releases that seem to assemble a collection of parallel applications and call themselves complete. I am looking for something that is stable, and relatively easy to use. I have half convinced my wife that she will use Linux in the future, so I need to set up something that she can use (on the Duron system she hijacked after I put it together to learn Linux). Thoughts would be appreciated.

Before you jump me about the equipment, I am fully aware of how dumb it sounds, but I am on a tight budget, and our three main Windows machines are all pretty much up to date. All being used for tasks that take priority over learning Linux. I just can't convince my wife to let me spend more than a couple of hundred on this essentially educational project. (Our family has other needs that take priority and I have already spent a bundle on computer equipment this year.) In addition, I have some ISA hardware I don't want to retire for a while. I am not interested in a duel boot system. The Duron is dual boot. I have discovered that only one person can use such a system at a time, and my wife doesn't like to share. Hence my need for a separate Linux box.

Thanks,

CH

[winston]

bump need info too.

[mairving]

Well generally to use the Linux box as a proxy server, you will need to use IPMasq. Here is a pretty good site on setting up IPmasq.

As far as getting the printers to work through samba, I haven't had much luck with my HP printer working.

As far as the browser, you only have a few options, one is Mozilla. The others are Opera and the new Konqueror. Linux mag rated Konquerer the number one browser. It is part of the KDE family.

Hope this helps.

[Computer Hobbyist]

Thanks for the info.

Masquerade looks very interesting. It seems to work on the same principal as either wingate or windows internet connection sharing--you create a gateway for a TCP/IP Class C network. In that regard it seems easy to set up.

I haven't had much luck setting up SAMBA either. I'm going to keep trying.

CH

[mairving]

Originally posted by Computer Hobbyist I haven't had much luck setting up SAMBA either. I'm going to keep trying.

Actually Samba works fine on my system. The printer does not. It is networked to a Windows computer. I briefly attempted to configure the printer. It didn't work and I don't use the printer that much anyway with that machine. I would be glad to help you set up samba to share drives. I setup my shares and mapped a drive so even Windows thinks it is a Windows drive.

[Computer Hobbyist]

Thanks, I'll be back in touch about Samba as soon as I know what questions to ask. I think the book I have says Samba can allow you to share printers hanging off Windows machines. I need to check.

CH

PS: My VCR still blinks 12:00, but Windose has driven me to learn Linux anyway.
PPS: I'm actually having a great time learning Linux. The great thing about having a box dedicated to Linux education is that if you screw things up you can just start over without the risk of hurting anything or taking something important offline.