linux server setup

[regiemon]

hello

have a friend will be going to setup an internet cafe
he will be using a suse for the server
he would like to know how he could control the internet connection of the workstations. meaning, he could turn off/on the internet connection of each workstation. how we could do that?

thank you in advance

 

[macdude425]

All traffic would have to be filtered thru the server, and he'd have to use iptables to shut down individual connections, IIRC.

 

[regiemon]

do you know some iptables for dummies?im trying to learn iptables and spending much time in reading iptables tutorials in the net.but having a hard time learning it.

 

[horndude]

Probably be easier to use Suse as an Xserver and then use thin clients for the nodes for users, wouldnt have to change any of the networking involved, just the logins for the users. It would also be easier to control what software the users can run that way too.

 

[mBernhardt]

I believe there's a LiveCD Distro aimed just at what you are trying to do. I'm, of course, going to be completely unhelpful by not supplying the Distro name because I can't recall it off the top of my head.

Google "live cd list" and go to the first site. (FrozenTech or something like that) A bunch are listed there.

 

[jakec]

SUSE as a server? not a good plan, you'd be better off using a distro designed for sever use, check out the link below:

http://www.livecdlist.com/?pick=All&showonly=Server&sort=&sm=1

hope that helps

Jake

 

[regiemon]

our client will be using suse for server and windows xp for clients.

 

[horndude]

so use the SuSe box as a dhcp server with either dns/cache service and/or masquerading/packet forwarding, that way you can control which machines have net access

 

[Law]

How about this http://www.smoothwall.org/get/

Basically an easier way than iptable, graphical interface. The configuration is done remotely from a web browser and it's free.

Check out the screen shot for SmoothWall Express 2.0 (current stable version) http://www.smoothwall.org/about/screenshots/

 

[The General]

Why Windows XP for the clients? Just wondering.