Networks smoothwall like software? Help a linux noob

I have a USB modem that is used for my home networks internet access through ICS. I wasnt to set up a smoothwall but want to use the box as a file server at the same time. I have ZERO experiance with linux and havent even started to look for linux drivers for the old p200 that this will be running on but i do know i can get linux drivers for the modem. Will it be very hard to find drivers for an old system like this do you think? (i dont know any of the details at the moment as im at work)

Its my understanding that smoothwall can not be used as a fileserver. Is this right? Ive heard good things about the security and ease of smoothwall and would like to use it, but it needs to share files also.

If i cant use smoothwall then i have seen Clarkconnect that has a free home edition that would seem to do much more than smoothwall with some features that might be handy. Anyone know anything about it?

TIA

cheebs

 

Yup ive used it before it's pretty easy to use and has plenty of features. Also theres plenty of extras you can add and all configurable from a web interface once installed.

 

Personally I can't see why smoothwall wouldnt have the ability to act as a file server - i had a play with it not long ago out of boredom and it's basically a modded version of redhat. Otherwise it appears to be pretty much a functioning distro, so assuming it has a compiler, you'll probably be able to make it work with samba/FTP!

If anyone knows better than I, shout up. As said, i didnt play with it for long...

 

Smoothwall does not come with a compiler. It's not a fully functioning distro. Everything that's unnecessary for its job as a firewall/router has been removed.

ClarkConnect on the other hand does look like its got everything you need.

I currently use IPCop on my router, which is very similar to Smoothwall, but looking at ClarkConnect... I'm thinking of trying it out for a while to see what it really does.

 

Well, i decided to give it a go last night.

I managed to get it installed, after some odd hardware probs with an old HD, and so far ive managed to change the ip address of the local NIC. hehe i was proud of myself. I have to say im finding it a little daunting being used to a GUI. This is my first fiddle with linux ever.

I now need to figure out how to get the NIC drivers installed i think, and i have to get my USB ADSL modem going. Now if only i could figure out how to get this command line thingy going can anyone tell im almost drowning in an inch of water!

I dont know if there is such a thing but are there any tips that will work with clarkconnect that the rest of you use for other linux installs?

 

I'm using Clarkconnect home 2.1 as a firewall/gateway, web server, and SAMBA server, I think it is a great solution to have if you need a cable/DSL router and have a spare pc lying around. Samba was a snap to get going as well as the web server- just don't mess with the httpconfig file much and get Samba running first then put your index.html file in the web folder on the samba share.
The gallery software is great but a bit buggy as sometimes it acts up when you try to load pics. Clarkconnect has a good forum to search for any answers to problems you may have, I'm still learning myself but I think part of your problem is you might have the modem plugged into the wrong nic card- I had a similar problem and found that I had to switch nics and reboot the server and then my system functioned correctly. You should have one nic as your exterior where the modem goes and the other is for your internal lan.

 

What is everyone's craving for convergance....

It's a friggin firewall/routing appliance... that's right boys and girls router... not print server.. not file server... not even a web server....

You all want one thing to do the job of 20... yet winge when it takes on 19 more fault oportunities...

And a well known saying...
"Putting all your eggs in one basket"

 

It's called Clarkconnect dude, you can take that old pentium 2 233MHz (or an even slower machine) that you had collecting dust under your bed and set it up to actually be of use with some free software, yes that is right free and it will let you have a proxy server, windows file server (SAMBA), gateway/router, content filter, popup filter or blocker, web server, web gallery, print server, and several other things all for free--- can't ask for much more for that price now can you, LOL.

 

See http://www.distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=firewalls. Theres a lot more than Smoothwall and Clarkconnect...

Also http://www.ipcop.org: its a fork of smoothwall (or was some time ago) but just generally better, also lacking a commercial side. The 1.4 alpha/beta series is running so you might want to try them rather than 1.3. I use 1.4a12.

 

You don't stand a chance with the newer speedtouch USB modems. Something to do with firmware issues

 

I stand corrected / informed

 

I think there are firmware up dates for the speedtouch 330 that will work with smoothwall and it is said that the new IpCop beta has it fixed too. Haven't tested it yet hopefullly tomorrow

 

IPCop 1.4a12 looks like it supports the Speedtouch 330 although not perfectly atm :: http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=3930894&forum_id=4955

 

I'm going to hopefully test it tomorrow if I finish my maths.
If it doesn't work I will blame young Kiwi_uk and make him finish our website. (Stop playing with linux and play website building )

 

@ChegsJAR,
Keep us updated

BTW, when did you get your modem?

 

got it just after Christmas ish. Off to finish my maths now update later hopefully with a big and other happy smiles

 

Well im still having troubs with my USB modem. Its a fujitsu FDX310 and ive found the drivers for it. I just dont know how to install them. I think i need some linux noob help so i will post a thread in the linux board about that if i dont get much response here. (or maybe a mod could move this if they think its better off there)

I have got Clarkconect to work to a fashion. It obviously is not my gateway yet but i have been into it with webconnect and had a play about. Even though i am using a USB modem it still needed setting up with 2 NICs (one onboard and one PCI) for a gateway and ive managed to swap the onboard to be external network (wont be used - its an old 10Mb NIC anyway ) and the PCI 10/100 card to be internal. They were configured the other way round by the setup routine.

Here is my thread on clarkconnect forums regarding my fuill progress to date. My thread has been a little quiet since friday, I think they might have given up with my noobness.

Here is the driver i have downloaded to a floppy to install on the clarkconnect box. Then following this beginners guide to the driver but i get nowhere. (Im sure its something simple but trying to find a begginers guide to linux proved difficult. I probably just dont know the terms i should be searching for). It tells me to

Well im thinking, Ok ill try it but how will it know that i want it to look at the floppy? Sure enough it came up with a cant find that file error.

So any patient linux peeps feel generous to help a man in need ?

 

Bump sorry!

Any chance a kindly mod could move this to the linux forum please?

 

Well guess what, after battling against our silver speedtouch 330 modem on and off since september of last year, I finally got it working with smoothie