gutsy and regular PCs on edubuntu lan

[Jay Perez]

Hi Philippe,
If you cannot turn off the DHCP on your existing server or router then you might want to consider the 2nd topology Gavin referred to in his earlier note using two network cards.
I originally set mine up that way and it worked perfectly out-of-the-box.  (I discovered that either approach works well as long as you have the network cards installed in the computer in the correct configuration BEFORE you install the Edubuntu software !  In other words, if you're going to use two cards, have them both installed before starting.  Likewise, if you only intend to use one, have only one in the computer when you install the O/S.  Also, make sure both cards actually work.  I wasted a lot of time because one of the cards I installed was bad and I didn't realize it.)
In this setup, I had the first network card in the Edubuntu server connected to my router to allow it access to the Internet.  The second network card was connected to a switch that all the thin-client PCs were plugged into. Because the server had access to the Internet, so did all the thin-clients attached to it.
The only problems I had with this type of set up is that you now have 2 different sub-nets and I don't have the technical skills to configure them so you can share files and resources across them.
Also, and the thing I really did not like about this setup, you can only use the computers plugged into the switch on the Edubuntu server as thin-clients.
If that's OK with you, then this will also work very well and is very easy to install.
Best Wishes.
Jay 

-- Philippe Rousselot <ubuntu at alcatorda.com> wrote:
Hi Gavin,

Gavin McCullagh a écrit :
> Hi Philippe,
>
> On Tue, 30 Oct 2007, Philippe Rousselot wrote:
>
>   
>> It is apparently impossible (out of the box) to get regular PCs 
>> connected to the edubuntu lan to access internet. it is only possible 
>> for thin clients.
>>     
>
> There are (as I understand it) two possible network topologies for
> edubuntu:
>
> 1. Single network interface.  Edubuntu and all thin clients sit on the main
>    network like all other machines.  Edubuntu runs dhcp for all machines,
>    and thin client services for thin clients.
>   
yes and according to Jay it seems to work well.

> 2. Two network interfaces.  Edubuntu sits on the main network, thin clients
>    sit behind it, connected by a separate switch to its second network
>    interface.
>
> In [1], all machines can see the internet directly.  In [2], you can put
> your desktops directly on the main network and they will get internet
> access _or_ put them behind the edubuntu server which must then have
> ip_forwarding switched on.
>
>   
I did it setting up  /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward at one, but it does 
not seem to be enought

> It's possible the above situation has changed recently.  I'm open to
> corrections if it has.
>
>   
>> remarque: as the primary vocation for edubuntu is to be used in schools, 
>> it is quite domageable not to get out of the box  :
>>     1. parental control with GUI to modify white/black list
>>     2. access to internet for regular PCs connected to the server
>>     
>
> What you seem to be describing here is a firewall/content filtering server.
> Edubuntu (again, as I understand it) provides a desktop OS for schools, not
> a firewall.  You probably don't want to plug things together as though it
> were the firewall and it doesn't attempt to provide content filtering
> (which is usually best done at/near the firewall).
>
> I would suggest a firewall/filtering product is required for this need.
> Maybe edubuntu should try to provide it, I don't know, but the current
> product is really not aimed at that.
>
>   
yes, but ...

edubuntu is supposed to be a easy self contained system that non IT 
people can use and install. Setting up a firewall/filtering system is 
another ball game way above the level of knowledge of most teachers I know,
and having a parental control in school is something compulsory

that's why I say not having it by default is a bug.

have a good day or night

Philippe
> ... or such is my understanding.
>
> Gavin
>
>
>   


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