LAN question

[Paul Newell]

Tim wrote:
> On Sun, 2008-09-21 at 21:53 -0700, Paul Newell wrote:
>   
>> I am really glad you added the note about what the heck that "::1"
>> item is, I didn't put the "6" together with IPv6. I am going to
>> disable IPv6 until I get this sorted out so I have closer symmetry
>> with the original.
>>     
>
> I disable IPv6, and leave it that way.  Though there are a few IPv6
> services in the wild, my ISP (supposedly) doesn't support IPv6 yet, and
> my modem definitely doesn't.
>
>   
>> I do not have a server, just three Linux boxes. Connectivity is
>> handled through Linksys.
>>     
>
> Linksys is a brand, I had to go back through the thread to find out what
> particular device you're referring to, Linksys WRT54GL, a wireless
> router and wired network switch, which makes use of an external modem
> (or not, if you connect to your ISP without needing any modem).  In
> essence, this is your server.
>
> Generally, *it* will be the gateway to the internet for your other PCs,
> it may also be the DNS server for them (many of these devices will act
> as a local DNS server, so you don't have to configure each PC with the
> ISP's DNS server address - useful, so you don't have to reconfigure them
> all should the ISP change their server address).
>
> They can also be a DHCP server, that will configure the network
> addresses of any device attached to your LAN, automatically.  But often
> these all-in-one devices don't tie their DHCP server to their DNS
> server, so your local machine names aren't entered into their DNS
> server.  This can be a problem with things that need names and IPs fixed
> together (such as mail servers, and SSH), in which case it can be easier
> to turn off its DHCP server, and set things up statically on each PC.  I
> can't see anything on the Linksys website that suggests it enters DHCP
> assigned addresses into its DNS server.
>
> In my opinion, you're better off with a fully integrated DNS and DHCP
> server combination, *or* to completely ignore DHCP and use static
> addresses.  Trying a half-arsed approach just makes things painful.
>
>   
>> It does sound like you are suggesting to do the default setting for
>> the install and change later (??? --- yes, this is a question)
>>     
>
> Yes, do whatever's needed for the install (or ignore that step, if you
> don't need networking during the install), then reconfigure
> post-install, if needed.
>
>   
>> If I may ask, would you suggest directly editing ifcfg-eth0 as I think
>> Joel is suggesting?
>>     
>
> It shouldn't be necessary, and if you still have automatic configuring
> programmes running on the computer, you'll be fighting against them.
> Whichever method you use for manual configuration, turn off the
> automatic alternatives.  
>
> You can use the configuration tools provided by Fedora, they work for
> me.  There's a "network" administration tool in the Gnome menus, KDE
> will have something similar.
>
> On my own network, I have a variety of machines, and do not want to have
> to hand-edit hosts files all over the place.  I have a DNS and DHCP
> server working together on a Fedora box (which also has mail and web
> servers, etc.).  The server has a fixed address, all the client PCs use
> DHCP to let the server configure them, there's no manual configuring
> needed on the clients, other than to tell them what their own hostnames
> are.  I fix IPs, for things that need them, by configuring the DHCP
> server.  For things that don't need fixed IPs, the DHCP server has a
> range of addresses it'll pick from.
>
>   
Tim:

Thanks for the suggestions. Between this and the earlier ones I have 
gotten I am thinking I am seeing the light in all this. The info about 
the separation of what is needed for the install and the configuration 
afterwards may seem obvious to more experienced folks ... for me it was 
new and helped alot with understanding earlier suggestions.

I'll try again this weekend.

And I'll try not to write such verbose replies ... I think I need a 24 
hour cooling off period between trying to get things to work and 
figuring out what I need to ask next.

My appreciate to you and others for bearing with,
Paul