Help with IPCop/Router..

[cKGunslinger]

This is probably a basic question, but networking always seems to confuse me at some point:

Current situation:

• Internet comes in through PPOE device into the WAN port of my Router
• Some devices attached to the Router are static-IP (my PC, network printer, etc.)
• Some devices attached are DHCP-assigned IP (iPod, laptop)

Adding New Hardware:

• Older PC running IPCop (firewall/filter) in between PPPOE and Router
• IPCop (RED) logs in through PPPOE and gets an IP from my ISP.
• IPCop (GREEN) plugs into a standard port into the Router and appears as just another device.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly

I can see all devices and log into the IPCOP Admin Webserver from any browser on the GREEN network.

Internet works great on my static-IP devices, provided I set the Gateway and DNS server to the IPCop IP address (instead of the Router's.)

DHCP devices assigned by my Router do NOT have internet access.


Ideal Situation

What I'd like is for the IPCop Firewall to be transparent to machines on the other side of the Router. I'd like my Router to appear to be the DHCP server, DNS server and Gateway for all my devices, while my Router gets all its info from IPCop. The only direct interaction I want with IPCop is through the webserver.

As it stands, if I decide to move IPCop online/offline and plug/unplug my internet PPOE directly into my router, I have to edit all the network devices to change their settings. I'd like this to be completely transparent to all network devices, but I'm not quite sure how to go about this.

 

[Fardringle]

If you want your router to act as a router (provide DHCP, DNS, and Gateway functions) for your computers and devices, then you need to connect the IPCOP machine to the WAN/Internet port on the router.

I have to admit that I'm not sure why you would want to do this, though. A properly configured IPCOP box is vastly superior to any consumer grade router you can buy. If you simply need the extra wired ports, then buy a switch or use your little router as a switch (disable DHCP on the router and connect IPCOP to one of the standard LAN ports with IPCOP acting as DHCP, DNS, and Gateway server for all devices).