Re: putting linux in another hard drive in PC with XP box

From: Ben Measures (saint_abroadremove_at_removehotmail.com)
Date: 02/05/04 

Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2004 00:45:23 +0000

curious wrote:
> I have Pnetium 4, Dell PC (came with windows 2000) with XP installed.
> 256 RAM; 1.3 GHZ. Hard drive (C) is 40GB. Currently I have SyGate
> firewall installed for XP. I use Norton AV. Other tools used include
> CWShreeder, AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, taken from a suggestion
> given in comp.security.
>
> I have an extra slot where I can put a DVD or another hard drive. I

Small DVD drive or big HDD ;)

> am thinking to get another hard drive and put Linux. I would like to
> use linux forInterent as well. I called and learned thet my ISP
> (COMCAST) doesn't support Linux and so I have to do configuartion to
> get interent connection to Linux. Would it be too complicated?

Getting an internet connection in Linux is easy in most distributions
now. The hardest part is getting the (adsl) modem working alright.

If you have a broadband modem, it'd be preferable if it has a network
port to connect to your computer. These are the easiest to setup.

If you have a 56k modem, it'd be preferable if it is an external modem.
These are almost trivial to setup.

Otherwise it can be a bit harder to setup but in most cases workable.

> Q1:
> I know that some people have a Linux box with firewall installed which
> is then networked to XP box. In that case, XP would not need firewall
> to use Interent, right?

That's right. However you'd have to be sure that your firewall on the
Linux box is adequately setup. You can't just think that because Linux
is doing the internet routing all is safe.

Thankfully, some distros like Mandrake make it easy to configure a
firewall - they have a simple firewall panel (that's suitable [read safe
enough] for most people's needs).

> Q2:
> Since I will have Linux and XP in different hardrives of the same PC,
> I believe that I would need firewall installed for both operating
> systems, right?

Initially, you don't need to worry too much about installing a firewall
for your Linux box. It's generally a good idea for the long term though.

> I am not in urgent need to use Interent through Linux (especially
> since I would have to learn to configure to get Interent connection
> myself since my ISP doesn't support) but I heard that it would be
> safer to do so. The main thing is that I need to be able to continue
> to learn Linux once my current Linux account from school expires by
> March 21. Also, I want to learn using Oracle with Linux aside from
> learning with XP.
> To download Oracle, I would need Internet connect in Linux too.

I get a funny feeling that the internet is faster with Linux. ;)

Seriously though, once you are familiar with the workings of Linux you
can secure your box tighter than a thumbscrew. (And possibly make the
internet go faster too. :D )

> Q3:
> As the frist step, my plan is to have Linux operating system available
> at home.

Good plan.

> If I were to get another hard drive, what size should I buy (I knwo
> the required size depend on the distros; I am asking what size SHOULD
> i get so that it won't become small soon for me as I plan to use
> Oracle with it and also more stuff later...

It actually depends on what you want to do.

If you just want to get deep down into the internals of a Linux
distribution (and *really* do some learning) then an old 4G HDD should
suffice.

However, for a fuller experience of all the Graphical Applications that
the Linux environment has to offer, you should aim for a 10G HDD (or 20G
one to be on the safe side).

Of course, music and videos take up the same amount of space whatever
the OS, so if you want to be doing this then you should go as big as
your wallet will allow. (250G anyone?)

> Q4:
> Would ideal situation be getting a used PC from Ebay and get Linux
> installed. That way, later I can get Internet connected to it (put
> firewall on Linux box) and then network to XP box.

If you want to do route 1 above, most businesses are throwing away old
computers that Linux would be more than happy to run on. That way, you
can meddle in Linux to your hearts content without worry of losing any
money whilst you're at it.

However, if you want to try things like OpenOffice.org you'll be wanting
a faster computer (at least 500MHz unless you're patient).

> At some point in the future, I plan to use a router before connect any
> pc (XP or Linux) directly. to Interent.

You might be interested in www.smoothwall.org. I have it running on an
old 133MHz Pentium under my stairs, happily protecting my network. 

-- 
Ben M.
----------------
What are Software Patents for?
To protect the small enterprise from bigger companies.
What do Software Patents do?
In its current form, they protect only companies with
big legal departments as they:
a.) Patent everything no matter how general
b.) Sue everybody. Even if the patent can be argued
	invalid, small companies can ill-afford	the
	typical $500k cost of a law-suit (not to mention
	years of harassment).
Don't let them take away your right to program
whatever you like. Make a stand on Software Patents
before its too late.
Read about the ongoing battle at http://swpat.ffii.org/
----------------

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