[ale] Linux proxy server

[Thompson Freeman]

On Jul 25,  5:56pm, ED PAYNTER wrote:
> Subject: [ale] Linux proxy server
> Dear ALE:
> 	My name is Ed Paynter and I am the network administrator for
> Greensboro Day School, a K-12 school located in Greensboro, NC.  Our
> school has recently (last December) installed a campus Ethernet network
<<snip>>
> 	My first question is:  Will it work?  With the hardware I have, can I
> build an adequate Linux-based proxy server that will help our Internet
> access speed.

I have not done so myself. However, it should work like a champ unless I missed
something intensely obvious.

> 	My second question is: Assuming the answer to the first question is
> yes, will I need additional software (proxy-services,etc.) in order to
> setup the proxy or are they a part of Linux.
> 	And my last question:  Assuming that both 1 & 2 are answered yes,
> could I use this same machine as a firewall for our network.  It seems
> logical to assume that a proxy server could also act as a firewall.

Linux can serve as a firewall. If you are stuck about 10 days from now, I can
forward your note to an Internet security friend of mine (he is on vacation at
the moment - do not disturb 8-)).

> Currently, we have little protection from the Internet (our main
> protection is that we are probably a very boring site and thus of
> little interest to hackers) and the fact that our fileserver uses only
> IPX and AppleTalk with no drive mapping to our Internet server.   We do
> nightly backups just in case.
<<snip>>
>-- End of excerpt from ED PAYNTER


Ed:

You have two Linux Users Groups in your area to enlist also; name of TLUG and
PLUG, Triad Linux User's Group and Piedmont Linux User's Group. TLUG meets at
the Barnes & Nobel on the third Monday of the month (I think) in High Point.
PLUG is in Winston Salem, but I don't know where the next meeting is or when.
Both groups are listed with GLUE - groups of linux user's everywhere.

I went to the last TLUG meeting, and two young men attending looked to have the
expertise you need. Wish I could give you their names, but I cann't. The
contact person would know, however.

You might also check with the people running Charlotte's Web
(http://www.charweb.org/). They may or may not be in a position to be helpful
at your distance. Money may be involved with them, however.

Hope this helps, and hope you will keep things posted as to successful
progress.



-- 
Thompson Freeman		       tfreeman at vnet.net
========================================================
Student of Chemistry and other Philosophical Studies

!!  Free Knowledge! Bring your own bucket and shovel!
========================================================