Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[King Beowulf]

On 05/11/2016 04:15 AM, Richard Owlett wrote:
> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
> 
> I wish a blackbox which:
> 
> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be 
> considered]
> A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian

This one is your black box: Drop WinXP and use newest kernel Debian (or
Slackware but I am biased).  It has all the network tools you need
either already installed or in the repo. Run WinXP as a Qemu VM and
remote in via TigerVNC...if you must.  Use qemu to run multiple versions
of whatever

Connect it to a gigabit switch and a bunch of USB hubs.  Check the
motherboard specs: although you might only see 2 or 4 USB ports sticking
out the back, most motherboards in the past 5 yrs or so have another 1
or 2 USB headers that are unused (each header gets you 2 ports).

If you have extra PCI or PCI-x slots, you can add $10 NIC cards that you
can bridge with Linux metwork tools.

You can keep t connected to a monitor/kb and still use it as a
workstation.

CAVEAT: if the current CPU does not support virtualization (Intel VT-x
or AMD-V), buy a nice quad core (or more) box wit one of the newer i3 or
i5 CPUs, or AMD, with an ASUS or MSI motherboard.

> B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is 
> running SeaMonkey.

Seamonkey is available in Linux distros; I use it in Slackware on
occasion.

>Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is 
> as a portable.

So, dump WinXP and convert to Linux.

> C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the 
> HDD as many as
>ten times in one week ;/
> D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection 
> of flash dives
> and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.

Any Linux box can be set up as a file server via NFS and SAMBA for File
sharing.  I cast out Win* so now only use NFS to transfer files between
linux boxes here.

> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot 
> Z915 connected
I am not sure on Linux driver support; the spec sheet says yes.

> via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really 
> wanted a USB cell network
> modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't 
> try assaulting me with
> their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data 
> plan. this connection
> shall be protected by a firewall.

iptables/netfilter is provided by every Linux distro.  There are a
number of GUI tools to make admin easier.

> 
> How broke will I be?

< $100 for 8-16 port gigabit switch, powered USB hubs, Cat5 cables.
Maybe some more DRAM for (A) above.  $400-600 if you build a nice server
box - less if you snag a used one

I don't recommend a ARM CPU such as Raspberry Pi since these single
board computers can be I/O limited.

-Ed
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Larry Brigman]

Remember he is in outer Missouri, not Portland metro.
On May 11, 2016 10:13 AM, "Keith Lofstrom"  wrote:

> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 07:51:45AM -0700, Larry Brigman wrote:
> > All of 1) can be handled by a network switch.  Network switches can be
> > chained together to allow more connections.
>
> Surplus stores.  Plenty of perfectly good 10/100 8 port
> (even 24 and 32 ports) switches out there, replaced by
> gigabit switches.  There's a whole shelf of them at
> ecoBinary in Beaverton.  For my own office, I scored a
> 32 port gigabit switch with a broken power supply that
> I knew how to fix.
>
> I use the huge bandwidth for backups every night, but
> normal users less obsessive about backup can easily
> get by with 100 mbps.
>
> Keith
>
> --
> Keith Lofstrom  kei...@keithl.com
>
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Richard Owlett]

On 5/11/2016 11:19 AM, Nat Taylor wrote:
> pfSense might be worth looking into.  It won't run on the pi though, you'd
> need an old desktop or a router with a x86 or x86_64 in it.  That's the pro
> solution.  Alpine Linux would, however, work on the pi.

It may be some connectivity Issues I'm experiencing [A Baudot TTY 
would be a speed demon by comparison], but pfsense.org looks so 
bad you'd think I designed ir ;/

Going down for system glub glu



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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Keith Lofstrom]

On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 07:51:45AM -0700, Larry Brigman wrote:
> All of 1) can be handled by a network switch.  Network switches can be
> chained together to allow more connections.

Surplus stores.  Plenty of perfectly good 10/100 8 port
(even 24 and 32 ports) switches out there, replaced by
gigabit switches.  There's a whole shelf of them at
ecoBinary in Beaverton.  For my own office, I scored a
32 port gigabit switch with a broken power supply that
I knew how to fix.

I use the huge bandwidth for backups every night, but
normal users less obsessive about backup can easily
get by with 100 mbps.

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom  kei...@keithl.com
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Nat Taylor]

"And some sort of DNS server" - Damn you autocorrect

On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Nat Taylor  wrote:

> And some sort of end server.  How about running openwrt on it?
> http://computers.tutsplus.com/articles/installing-openwrt-on-a-raspberry-pi-as-a-new-home-firewall--mac-55984
> I'm sure there are plenty of software solutions, that's just the first or
> second one I found (the first one did Tor and openvpn over wifi didn't
> think that as your spec)
>
> On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Nat Taylor  > wrote:
>
>> You'd need a USB Ethernet adapter for two ports on the pi.  I'd get the
>> pi 3 and turn off the wifi
>>
>> On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Richard Owlett  wrote:
>>
>>> On 5/11/2016 10:00 AM, Nat Taylor wrote:
>>> > a $35 raspberry pi with a 4 port switch connected to it ($ 17 on
>>> amazon, or
>>> > wherever)
>>> > Maybe run ubuntu snappy core with a squid proxy in docker?
>>>
>>> Never thought of a Pi. Will have to research accessories
>>> (including enclosures optimally with integral power supply) to
>>> match vague mental image that "Thingy(TM)".
>>> Triggered thought that I should revisit Voyage Linux.
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> >
>>> > On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:15 AM, Richard Owlett 
>>> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
>>> >>
>>> >> I wish a blackbox which:
>>> >>
>>> >> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be
>>> >> considered]
>>> >>  A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
>>> >>  B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is
>>> >> running SeaMonkey.
>>> >> Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is
>>> >> as a portable.
>>> >>  C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the
>>> >> HDD as many as
>>> >> ten times in one week ;/
>>> >>  D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
>>> >> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection
>>> >> of flash dives
>>> >>  and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
>>> >> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot
>>> >> Z915 connected
>>> >>  via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really
>>> >> wanted a USB cell network
>>> >>  modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't
>>> >> try assaulting me with
>>> >>  their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data
>>> >> plan. this connection
>>> >>  shall be protected by a firewall.
>>> >>
>>> >> How broke will I be?
>>> >> TIA
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Nat Taylor]

And some sort of end server.  How about running openwrt on it?
http://computers.tutsplus.com/articles/installing-openwrt-on-a-raspberry-pi-as-a-new-home-firewall--mac-55984
I'm sure there are plenty of software solutions, that's just the first or
second one I found (the first one did Tor and openvpn over wifi didn't
think that as your spec)

On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Nat Taylor  wrote:

> You'd need a USB Ethernet adapter for two ports on the pi.  I'd get the pi
> 3 and turn off the wifi
>
> On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, Richard Owlett  > wrote:
>
>> On 5/11/2016 10:00 AM, Nat Taylor wrote:
>> > a $35 raspberry pi with a 4 port switch connected to it ($ 17 on
>> amazon, or
>> > wherever)
>> > Maybe run ubuntu snappy core with a squid proxy in docker?
>>
>> Never thought of a Pi. Will have to research accessories
>> (including enclosures optimally with integral power supply) to
>> match vague mental image that "Thingy(TM)".
>> Triggered thought that I should revisit Voyage Linux.
>> Thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:15 AM, Richard Owlett 
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
>> >>
>> >> I wish a blackbox which:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be
>> >> considered]
>> >>  A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
>> >>  B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is
>> >> running SeaMonkey.
>> >> Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is
>> >> as a portable.
>> >>  C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the
>> >> HDD as many as
>> >> ten times in one week ;/
>> >>  D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
>> >> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection
>> >> of flash dives
>> >>  and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
>> >> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot
>> >> Z915 connected
>> >>  via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really
>> >> wanted a USB cell network
>> >>  modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't
>> >> try assaulting me with
>> >>  their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data
>> >> plan. this connection
>> >>  shall be protected by a firewall.
>> >>
>> >> How broke will I be?
>> >> TIA
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ___
>> >> PLUG mailing list
>> >> PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org
>> >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>> >>
>> > ___
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>> > PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org
>> > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
>> >
>>
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Richard Owlett]

On 5/11/2016 10:00 AM, Nat Taylor wrote:
> a $35 raspberry pi with a 4 port switch connected to it ($ 17 on amazon, or
> wherever)
> Maybe run ubuntu snappy core with a squid proxy in docker?

Never thought of a Pi. Will have to research accessories 
(including enclosures optimally with integral power supply) to 
match vague mental image that "Thingy(TM)".
Triggered thought that I should revisit Voyage Linux.
Thanks.





>
> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:15 AM, Richard Owlett  wrote:
>
>> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
>>
>> I wish a blackbox which:
>>
>> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be
>> considered]
>>  A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
>>  B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is
>> running SeaMonkey.
>> Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is
>> as a portable.
>>  C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the
>> HDD as many as
>> ten times in one week ;/
>>  D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
>> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection
>> of flash dives
>>  and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
>> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot
>> Z915 connected
>>  via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really
>> wanted a USB cell network
>>  modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't
>> try assaulting me with
>>  their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data
>> plan. this connection
>>  shall be protected by a firewall.
>>
>> How broke will I be?
>> TIA
>>
>>
>>
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Richard Owlett]

On 5/11/2016 9:51 AM, Larry Brigman wrote:
> All of 1) can be handled by a network switch.  Network switches can be
> chained together to allow more connections.
> 2) and 3) now required a wireless router something like the one I am using
> ASUS RT-AC66R.
> It has two USB ports and the option to handle alternate routing for a 3/4G
> modem.  You can turn off the wifi.
> If you only have four computers you could just get the ASUS device and be
> done but the temporary devices would be over the four
> port limit of the router.

Sorry, no sail ;/
My specmanship skills must have atrophied more than I thought.
I had wished to explicitely exclude that solution.

Nobody ever said I was "normal". [No comment on silings' comments.]


>
> On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:15 AM, Richard Owlett  wrote:
>
>> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
>>
>> I wish a blackbox which:
>>
>> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be
>> considered]
>>  A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
>>  B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is
>> running SeaMonkey.
>> Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is
>> as a portable.
>>  C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the
>> HDD as many as
>> ten times in one week ;/
>>  D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
>> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection
>> of flash dives
>>  and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
>> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot
>> Z915 connected
>>  via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really
>> wanted a USB cell network
>>  modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't
>> try assaulting me with
>>  their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data
>> plan. this connection
>>  shall be protected by a firewall.
>>
>> How broke will I be?
>> TIA
>>
>>
>>
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Nat Taylor]

a $35 raspberry pi with a 4 port switch connected to it ($ 17 on amazon, or
wherever)
Maybe run ubuntu snappy core with a squid proxy in docker?

On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:15 AM, Richard Owlett  wrote:

> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
>
> I wish a blackbox which:
>
> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be
> considered]
> A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
> B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is
> running SeaMonkey.
>Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is
> as a portable.
> C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the
> HDD as many as
>ten times in one week ;/
> D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection
> of flash dives
> and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot
> Z915 connected
> via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really
> wanted a USB cell network
> modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't
> try assaulting me with
> their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data
> plan. this connection
> shall be protected by a firewall.
>
> How broke will I be?
> TIA
>
>
>
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Re: [PLUG] Creating a home network

[Larry Brigman]

All of 1) can be handled by a network switch.  Network switches can be
chained together to allow more connections.
2) and 3) now required a wireless router something like the one I am using
ASUS RT-AC66R.
It has two USB ports and the option to handle alternate routing for a 3/4G
modem.  You can turn off the wifi.
If you only have four computers you could just get the ASUS device and be
done but the temporary devices would be over the four
port limit of the router.

On Wed, May 11, 2016 at 4:15 AM, Richard Owlett  wrote:

> An underlying question: What should I be reading?
>
> I wish a blackbox which:
>
> 1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be
> considered]
> A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
> B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is
> running SeaMonkey.
>Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is
> as a portable.
> C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the
> HDD as many as
>ten times in one week ;/
> D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
> 2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection
> of flash dives
> and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
> 3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot
> Z915 connected
> via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really
> wanted a USB cell network
> modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't
> try assaulting me with
> their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data
> plan. this connection
> shall be protected by a firewall.
>
> How broke will I be?
> TIA
>
>
>
> ___
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[PLUG] Creating a home network

[Richard Owlett]

An underlying question: What should I be reading?

I wish a blackbox which:

1. Connects 4 local machines via Ethernet [WiFi shall *NOT* be 
considered]
A. A desktop with WinXP and multiple versions of Debian
B. A laptop with WinXP Pro SP3 whose reason for existence is 
running SeaMonkey.
   Historically it is/was my primary machine. Its future is 
as a portable.
C. A laptop dedicated to Linux experiments. I have erased the 
HDD as many as
   ten times in one week ;/
D. Misc temporarily connected laptops.
2. It shall provide multiple USB ports in order that a selection 
of flash dives
and a 1 TB HDD can be accessed by any machine.
3. It *SHALL* connect to the internet via a T-Mobile 4G Hotspot 
Z915 connected
via USB. The WiFi features have been disabled. I really 
wanted a USB cell network
modem. The local T-Mobile outlet was only vendor that didn't 
try assaulting me with
their 'smartphone-du-jour' with an atrociously large data 
plan. this connection
shall be protected by a firewall.

How broke will I be?
TIA



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