So since the last update on my home network I have been working on a lot projects and computers. The last update detailed 4 computers: 3 functional and 1 not so much. Since the addition of the 6th active computer on my network I’ve made some changes to the network architecture which I will outline and follow up on later.
To recap:
- Ayn is the iMac G5 running Kubuntu Edgy Eft
- Cate is the computer I built around a CeleronD 2.96Ghz running Kubuntu Edgy Eft and MythTV
- Laurie is the PII 200Mhz running Dapper Server Edition and acting as a webserver
- Cherry Coke IBM Thinkpad 760XD. I’ve finally cried uncle on this one. I’ve done everything I can think of to rescue it and am now selling it for a dollar on craigslist.
Since last update I’ve added the following machines:
- Penn: a PIV running Xubuntu and not doing much at the moment
- IPCop: a PII runing IPCop
- Unnamed PI, DEC circa 95/96
Many people at this point ask: why? First, systems administration really interests me. No I don’t know why. Second, each machine serves a purpose. Yes it is more than most home networks support but bare with me: IPCop acts as a router (more on this later), Cate is my home theater, Ayn is my development box and desktop machine, Penn will become a fileserver, Laurie is a webserver and the unnamed PI will most likely become a email server. So yeah i’m essentially running a home office but in light of the first rationale that makes sense.
So the big changes so far have been with routing. My original router was a 2wire 1000HW that came with my SBC (now AT&T) ADSL server. I’ve never liked it and recently switch to an IPCop setup. Long story short, the 2wire 1000HW never could be configured to a true bridge mode so I bought a used Speedstream 5260 ADSL Modem/Bridge which works great. Even though the modem is only rated to 10 base T LAN my internet is markedly faster. Leave it to Linux to be this awesome.
Now that that set up is complete, my network includes a subdomain of workstations (Ayn, Cate, and Penn) and a DMZ of servers (Laurie, and the PI) on a separate subdomain. My plan is to use Open Filer and a few hard drives at raid 5 on Penn as a file server for the LAN, and use Laurie as a webserver and the PI as an email server (maybe using the Citadel exchange server) in the DMZ. Adding a printer on LAN using CUPS would be another easy addition with this set up plus a computer or stack for mechatronics projects would also be a simple thing to implement. My network now allows me the flexibility to work on projects both hardware and software related with relative ease. Expect big updates to follow.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 Charlie // Mar 3, 2007 at 13:55
Hey Ned, long time no see! Holy crap, that’s quite a setup you have going… how’s that affect your power bill?
I’m still in a constant fight of whether or not I can actually use Linux. I love the principles behind it, but I just always seem to get tripped up.
If you want to add some Solaris to your network, Sun’s giving away starter kits now: http://get.opensolaris.org/.
2 adam shaw // Mar 4, 2007 at 05:39
sounds like ur home network is one well greased machine. i never knew u had a thinkpad; sorry about its death. so u might set up an email server? i gotta ask u about that when ur done cause i need to set one up soon. good luck!
3 nedsferatu // Mar 9, 2007 at 20:33
Charlie: it’s good to hear from you! our rates for electricity just went up so i don’t have a good reference to judge (plus i’ve been adding to the system over time). I’m sure it has some effect but not enough that i have to pick up a second job. :-)
what’s tripping you up with linux? let me know because it’s been a long road for me and i may be able to give you some pointers…maybe even blog about it because i’m sure you are not alone with your frustrations.
Solaris is causing quite a buzz for sure. it’s not for me at the moment but some of those features are quite interesting. I’m sure you’ll be seeing linux distros with ZFS in no time.
4 nedsferatu // Mar 9, 2007 at 20:42
Adam: I don’t know about well greased but it is working :-) . there are always things to work on and work out.
the thinkpad was given to me as a broken machine and try as i might i could not revive it. i’d tell you everything i tried but it’d be a long and boring list. i am no match for cherry coke when fighting for atticware.
my plan now for the email server is to either check out smeserver (http://www.smeserver.org/) or use Vector Linux (http://www.vectorlinux.com/) with Citadel (http://www.citadel.org/). Knowing me I will likely be trying both. I will write about it here when I do.
5 Bill // Mar 11, 2007 at 06:21
Hey Ned, some guys were asking about you on the boards. I couldn’t find any other way to contact you.
6 nedsferatu // Mar 11, 2007 at 09:30
Thanks Bill!
7 Greg // Mar 14, 2007 at 15:12
Wow, Ned. That’s a lot of machines.
I used to have eight machines running all sorts of crap on three different distros.
Now, I just have two laptops. I ditched everything else. I should’ve asked you if you wanted any of it. I didn’t even know…
8 nedsferatu // Mar 15, 2007 at 16:46
hey greg! that’s cool i didn’t know you had a farm of your own at one time, too. i’ve been thinking about my own and may choose to arrange things differently then outlined above but that’s the fun of fooling around with this stuff as you know. when i can scrape a few bucks together, i’ll probably add a laptop to the team; i’ll be asking your opinions then of course.
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