Go here if you want my library of files and past insights!

Step One: Put in your Linux CD - When you get to the first screen where you normally (in redhat) hit enter then it loads images.. etc.. you want to type this important command: vmlinuz root=/dev/hda7 (where 7 is your main linux parition #) and hit enter

Step Two: Login in after it boots up, then run /sbin/lilo and it will install Lilo again! Then simple reboot, and it should be fixed!

Two Topics I am covering this week: DHCP and SQUID

DHCP - There are two files that Redhat 6.0 + has that took me a while to find. The first one I will talk about is called dhcpd (151k), which is the SERVER-side of Redhat's built-in DHCP program. (If you don't have this, go here to get it) First, type ifconfig and make sure that you have your "eth0" (ethernet card) installed. If not, then go here for the Ethernet HOWTO. After knowing you have an ethernet card configured, you are ready to begin. Next step is to add a route for picky DHCP clients (ie. all Windows clients). Type route add -host 255.255.255.255 dev eth0. From here, you will create a file in the /etc directory.

NEW: I now have a dhcpd.conf file on my website, so all you have to do is (shift+click, I believe) download it, copy it to /etc, and follow the rest of the instructions here. Keep in mind you need to edit it to change the IP addresses and subnets to whatever you would like to have them setup to be.

This will result in DHCP server giving a client an IP address from the range 192.168.1.10 through 192.168.1.100 or 192.168.1.150 through 192.168.1.200. These are Class C IP addresses. Feel free to change them accordingly (Don't forget to alter the subnet mask too!!).

Okay, you're one step away from getting your server up and running! The last thing you need to do is type touch /var/state/dhcp/dhcpd.leases - this is used as a "jump-start" to allow DHCPd to store information about current leases.

Now you can invoke the DHCP server. Simply type /usr/sbin/dhcpd -d -f which puts the server in the foreground so you can see the debugging and assigning of IP addresses.

In my case, I was trying to get my Linux box as the server, then have my whole family, who runs Windows 98,NT,2000 to get access via the internet via my Linux box. I will explain how to do this right now.

I went over to another computer in the house that was running Windows NT. I had it Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and rebooted the computer. It worked like a charm. If yours doesn't, feel free to mail me and I will try to help you!

DHCPcd (153k) (The client/workstation side)

Okay, this is quite simple. You need to make sure you have a /etc/resolv.conf file. If you don't, simply create one using pico or your favorite editor. Your DHCP server will automatically write to it so don't worry about adding anything to it. Okay, now you must have a /etc/dhcpc DIRECTORY. Two steps: 1.) cp /etc/resolv.conf ./dhcpc/resolv.conf 2.) ln -sf /etc/resolv.conf ./dhcpc/resolv.conf. The second step will update both files (because they are linked..). At this point, I suggest rebooting (it may work without..). But once you reboot, type dhcpcd and it should pause for about 1-5 seconds, then you should be able to type route and you should see something else besides 127.0.0.0 (loopback). Also, if you type ifconfig you should be able to see the IP address that your DHCP server assigned to you! Any other questions, please email me - it seems to be different on every system - ugh.

Squid - FTP it here

Squid is a high-performance proxy caching server for web clients, supporting FTP, gopher, and HTTP data objects. Unlike traditional caching software, Squid handles all requests in a single, non-blocking, I/O-driven process.

Okay, once you have installed Squid (If you don't have it already.. Redhat 6.0 + should have it!) do the following:

Download squid.conf (shift+click to download, I believe) first. Then copy it to: /etc/squid/squid.conf

At a command line type squid -z which creates a cache directory. Now run squid by typing squid.

Me personally, I opened another virtual window (alt+f2) and typed tail /var/log/messages & to see if there were any error messages. If there weren't, then pat yourself on your back, the hard part is over with.

Next, go into your Windows browser, whether it be Internet Explorer (preferable) or Netscape. Go into either Tools or Edit, whichever has Internet Options. Go under the Connection tab, and select manual proxy. Type in the IP address of your Linux Box (mine is 192.168.1.2). In the PORT field, enter 3128. Click Ok and you are on the surfing the web! (provided your Linux box is online at the time!)

Next to come... Basic Firewall protection and maybe some ways of bring firewalls down.. if I can find any ways!

Modified 6-11-2000 3:04 a.m.

-Kyle