Learning Red Hat Linux, Second Edition

Chapter 11.  Setting Up a Networked Workstation

Linux’s greatest strength is its powerful and robust networking capabilities. The good news is that everything about Linux’s networking setup is open to inspection and completely configurable. Nothing is hidden from the user, and no parameters are forced on you. The challenge is to get the most out of this setup.

Basic networking principles don’t differ much between Windows and Linux, and indeed the principles aren’t unfamiliar. This chapter begins with an overview of networking and then looks in more detail at Linux networking on a local area network (LAN). In the next chapter, you’ll learn about setting up Internet services.

This chapter explains how to set up a LAN that includes a Linux Samba server, which lets Microsoft Windows and Unix systems access shared files and printers across the network. Samba not only lets you share files and printers, it can also be used to back up and restore files via the network. The chapter also explains how to use Neat (Red Hat’s Network Administration Tool)to administer a simple LAN. Administering the network configurations of the hosts on even a modest network can be a headache. This chapter explains how to install and configure a DHCP server that lets you manage network configurations centrally, facilitating network administration.

Networking Overview

Most computers today handle network traffic much as the post office handles mail. Think, for example, of the steps involved in sending and ...