Baslinux mailing list

[Robert Steinmetz <Rob AT steinmetznet.com>]

Matrix Mole wrote:

> Ok, I'm trying to figure out what all files I'm going to need to make my
> BL box into a good and proper files server. Because this will be a home
> network between the BL box, a Win98 machine, and my wifes Mac, I know I'll
> need samba, and netatalk. I've also loked through my slackware7.1 disc for
> other needed packages as well. I won't list them all here. What I'm really
> wanting to know, is this: Do I need to install multi-user support for just
> the fileserver functionality? 
It depends on the kind of access you want to give. If in a small home 
network you feel comfortable with share level access then you don't need 
to set up multiple user accounts. If you want to use user level access 
then you will need to set up user accounts.

> Ie, will I have to install a shadow package
> and create the users for accessing the file systems, or do I just need the
> server packages running? I'm still in the intellectual/design stage of
> this, mostly because I don't have cableing or router/hub/switch to connect
> the three machines up with as of yet.
>  
I'm curious as to why you want to use BL for this. If you have a machine 
with enough storage for a file server why don't you use the full 
slackware distribution, which has all of this stuff in it anyway?

> Slightly unrelated note (well, unrelated to BL kinda), does anyone have
> any suggestions on cheap methods of finding out about building and setting
> up home networks? Websites, books that are available in libraries (most
> libraries I've ever been in are roughly 5 years behind on the computer
> books section IME), anything that could be helpful.
The BL kernel is about 5 years old, so these books should be about 
right. The basics of building a small home network haven't changed much, 
except of course security which is a constantly evolving nightmare. The 
concepts involved in a home network are not complicated, its mostly a 
matter of getting the details right. Setting up the Linux server is 
pretty much the hardest part.

--
Robert Steinmetz AIA
Principal
Steinmetz & Associates