Setting up Red Hat Linux as firewall/server...

[imported_Pablo]

Just putting in a plug for Red Hat Linux for those who are interested in messing around with linux. Just got done with installation, which took about an hour.

It seems that it has been intentionally made idiot proof.

While it seems Red Hat is doing its best to make windows users comfortable in a new environment, hopefully it will help me learn a little more!

I installed it on a dell dimension 8200, with no problems!

__________________EDIT____________________

Okay so since i now feel like nothing can slow me down, I'm thinking about running Red Hat on a computer I have recently ordered.

I think it would be good to use the server as a firewall for my 8200... I'm having serious problems with viruses and worms so I am looking for anything to help me.

Is it easy to filter and share my internet connection through this server?
Would there be significant drop in performance or transfer rate?
What would be a good firewall program for this application?
Are there any other recommendations?

Thanks in advance for the help!

PS I can also get my hands on Windows 2000 Server if Linux is going to have problems sharing with my Dual-Boot 8200....

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: PabloMartinez
Just putting in a plug for Red Hat Linux for those who are interested in messing around with linux. Just got done with installation, which took about an hour.

It seems that it has been intentionally made idiot proof.

While it seems Red Hat is doing its best to make windows users comfortable in a new environment, hopefully it will help me learn a little more!

I installed it on a dell dimension 8200, with no problems!

Knoppix 3.1 Linux is even easyer to install (under 2 minutes install), faster than Redhat 8.x, and come pre-install with a gluntton of useful apps + XMMS.

 

[igiveup]

6.2 was the turning point with Linux for me. I have 8.0 on my server here at home and it really is very usable.

If you think RedHat was easy to install, try Mandrake. That thing had a better install routine than XP.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: igiveup
6.2 was the turning point with Linux for me. I have 8.0 on my server here at home and it really is very usable.

If you think RedHat was easy to install, try Mandrake. That thing had a better install routine than XP.

HR 8.x have quite a nice install routine, but ELX & Yoper Linux still are better at it.

I haven't ever touch Mandrake, but has downloaded & burned a set of 9.1rc2 to test this weekend.

 

[NumbaJuan]

Originally posted by: PabloMartinez
Just putting in a plug for Red Hat Linux for those who are interested in messing around with linux. Just got done with installation, which took about an hour.

It seems that it has been intentionally made idiot proof.

While it seems Red Hat is doing its best to make windows users comfortable in a new environment, hopefully it will help me learn a little more!

I installed it on a dell dimension 8200, with no problems!

must be rh8 night. just loaded up a copy myself. first go with linux. so far so good!

 

[cleverhandle]

RH8 night, indeed. I had been using on my laptop a few months ago, but moved on to other things. Felt like installing an OS tonight, and there it was. I hadn't heard of apt-rpm/synaptic last time through, so I checked that out tonight. Hot damn! It actually makes RH's packaging bearable. If I didn't have so many tweaked out installations already, I could actually use this. And yes, I know it's a Debian ripoff, and that debs provide more subtle dependency info, etc. But RH is still a heckuva lot easier to set up, and looks much nicer out of the box.

The only thing that's still bugging me on RH is the bloody menu setup. Whoever handled that really needs a good flogging. GNOME menu editing sucks hard enough without RH's stupid "Extras" menu and 8 different locations for *.desktop files. Grrr....

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: igiveup
6.2 was the turning point with Linux for me. I have 8.0 on my server here at home and it really is very usable.

If you think RedHat was easy to install, try Mandrake. That thing had a better install routine than XP.

HR 8.x have quite a nice install routine, but ELX & Yoper Linux still are better at it.

I haven't ever touch Mandrake, but has downloaded & burned a set of 9.1rc2 to test this weekend.

If you're going to take a wack at one of Mandrake's betas I hope you're doing it on a test partition.....

 

[imported_Pablo]

bump for edit!!!

 

[Spyro]

Is it easy to filter and share my internet connection through this server?

Yes.

Would there be significant drop in performance or transfer rate?

Nope.

What would be a good firewall program for this application?

This How-to should tell you about that.

Are there any other recommendations?

You might want to read these:
IP Masquerading Howto
Just Linux: Networking Docs

Thanks in advance for the help!

Good luck!

 

[YRLSEngr]

I also just built a Linux box, which I'll be using as a Samba server for MP3s. Initially, I downloaded both Mandrake 9.0 and RH 8.0, and based on feedback from others I installed Mandrake first. I used it for about a week to set up my network and get my feet wet, but decided to install RH last night to see how it compares.

Both were very straight-forward installations. Mandrake was a little slicker (whover commented that it is easier than XP was on the money), but I preferred the way RH walked you through setting up your hostnames, users, and passwords.

Kit

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: wizardLRU

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: igiveup
6.2 was the turning point with Linux for me. I have 8.0 on my server here at home and it really is very usable.

If you think RedHat was easy to install, try Mandrake. That thing had a better install routine than XP.

HR 8.x have quite a nice install routine, but ELX & Yoper Linux still are better at it.

I haven't ever touch Mandrake, but has downloaded & burned a set of 9.1rc2 to test this weekend.

If you're going to take a wack at one of Mandrake's betas I hope you're doing it on a test partition.....

I have close to 10 old hdds ranging between 2.1~6.2 GB & 1/2 a dozen removable IDE drive bays for this purpose

 

[Spyro]

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: wizardLRU

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: igiveup
6.2 was the turning point with Linux for me. I have 8.0 on my server here at home and it really is very usable.

If you think RedHat was easy to install, try Mandrake. That thing had a better install routine than XP.

HR 8.x have quite a nice install routine, but ELX & Yoper Linux still are better at it.

I haven't ever touch Mandrake, but has downloaded & burned a set of 9.1rc2 to test this weekend.

If you're going to take a wack at one of Mandrake's betas I hope you're doing it on a test partition.....

I have close to 10 old hdds ranging between 2.1~6.2 GB & 1/2 a dozen removable IDE drive bays for this purpose

:Q

Sheesh, I would give an arm and a leg to have a setup like that.