Hello! First let me thank you all (only one reply for all to save bandwidth).
Good News: About three hours ago I got the okay, that they will start a project replacing the ol' Novell with Debian. Some of them are a bit sceptical, but I'm sure they will be surprised and beaten by the stability (isn't too hard - the Novell server goes down three times a day, or gets simply stuck. And they don't have heavy load). On Thu, Mar 05, 1998 at 12:01:59PM +1059, Craig Sanders wrote: > On Wed, 4 Mar 1998, Marcus Brinkmann wrote: > > > I have managed to promote Debian in a small but expanding firm > > (currently a dozen systems). They have old Novell Net and Samba at the > > moment, but they like Linux and want to change somehow. They allow me > > to give them a wishlist for a Debian System, and they'll buy it, and > > now I really need some help here. > > > > TASKS: File Server, Print Server, Internet Connection per ISDN (so > > this would work as a Gateway & Firewall) (light load), File Backup, > > If you can do it, i would suggest that you put the gateway/firewall on a > separate box. scrounge up an old 386 or 486 (running debian, of course) > if you have to. I think they will have a few spare machines when they get new machines. Perhaps the old Novell Server can do a good job there ;) It is a 486. Debian is mandatory - I will not help them with another system. > It's not a performance issue - a well configured debian box can easily > handle all of those tasks - it's a security issue. the fewer services > running on your firewall, the less likely it is that a newly discovered > security hole can be exploited. Ok, I understand this. I will take it to my heart. > something like this ought to do it: > > ^ (ISDN line to the internet) > | > | > v > +-------+ +--------+ > | 386 | | Server | > +-------+ +--------+ (other machines) > | | | | | | > +-------------------------------------------------------------> > eth0 - 192.168.1.0/24 (internal, firewalled LAN) > > one box *can* do the lot, but it greatly complicates the firewall and > other security configuration. Ok, this looks like something I also was thinking of. As you already guessed in your other mail, I'll have to use IP Masquerading. > > and probably to be used at Workstation, too (login, probably with X > > for Windows) > > see comments below about mixing WS & Server functionality. > > > If you could take a quick look at the following lists and comment on it, I > > would be very grateful. > > > > Pentium >= 166, probably not so important > > RAM >= 64, probably more (96?, 128?) > > more memory is good. much more important for fileserver performance than a > few extra Mhz processor speed. > > > SCSI discs, 2 or more each 2-4 GB. Is buslogic available in Germany? Other > > good brands? > > Mainboard ASUS > > Normal architecture or PS/2 (is PS/2 well supported?) > > PCI. Alex said, that PS/2 wouldn't cause any problems, but probably it is better to keep on the safe side. > > What is a good Graphic card (they'll need a good one) is Matrox Millenium > > well supported? Other brands? > > anything that works. an S3 Trio-64 is good value for money...cheap and > adequate for most needs. > > remember that this machine is primarily a server, not a workstation. > mixing those two functions is OK if the user is the system admin > and knows what they're doing (and how to avoid harming system > performance/stability)....however you can't trust a normal user to know > that they really shouldn't be playing quake or real-video on the company > file-server. okay, I will have a word with them ;) They should really effort a second machine as a linux terminal to play with. Would be easier to handle anyway. > > What is a good backup device? > > DDS-2 or DDS-3 tape. don't bother with flimsy toys like ftape units. Ok. (Have to check out what DDS is, but will do.) > > What is a good network card (they will switch to a faster network soon, at > > the > > moment they use NE2000 compatible cards, but I recall something with 100Mbps > > or so). > > PCI NE-2000 clones work well in my experience. they're not the fastest > card around, but they're dirt cheap and easy to set up. Yes. I said something about 100Mbps above. I asked again, and they have some doubts (and me too). I don't think they need those fast lines, but some business man has suggested a) 100Mbps lines and b) a router. Summa sumarum this would cost 3.500 $. Is this useful for such a small park? (In my opinion, they would be better off to invest the money in three linux machines.) > > Other things (as CD-ROM, Monitor, etc) I do not expect problems > > with. Should I? > > i've had problems with 24x CD-ROM drives. didn't bother figuring out > why, i just swapped it with a W95 user for an old 8x cd-rom. I never understood why somebody needs so fast CD-ROMS ;) BTW: I really am grateful for your help. I have the chance here to promote Debian not only for network, but also for development of certain software and hardware. *And* they are kind people, asking me what they can give back to the Linux community... and it is the first time I do such a thing, so I'm a bit uncertain about the requierments. About squid: At the moment, primary goal is file and print serving. But I will keep in mind the possibility for better web access. Many, many thanks to all of you. I will look at all your hints and recommendations! Marcus -- "Rhubarb is no Egyptian god." Debian GNU/Linux finger brinkmd@ Marcus Brinkmann http://www.debian.org master.debian.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] for public PGP Key http://homepage.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/Marcus.Brinkmann/ PGP Key ID 36E7CD09 -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
