Install a simple, isolated network from scratch Many people would like to try some networking with _L_i_n_u_x without hav- ing to learn much. The intended audience of this _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f feature is for people who want to evaluate a small network of _L_i_n_u_x machines (2-3) just to get a feel for its networking capabilities. 11.. PPiicckk aa nnaammee _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f has the definition for a simple network with predefined names. You pick a different name for each machine and that's it. The only requirement is a working Ethernet adapter. _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f will tell you right away if you don't have one (or if _L_i_n_u_x does not see one because it does not have the proper driver loaded). 22.. AAnndd tthheenn...... Once you have met the previous requirements, you may quit _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f and it will prompt you by telling you that something has to be done in order to make your configuration effective. Tell it to apply the changes. Once you have configured the other machines in your "test" network, you can start to experiment. Here are some short guidelines. Give it a try! 22..11.. CCaann yyoouu ppiinngg iitt?? Check that each machine can be reached through the network. Use the command ping. ping hostname Once you can "ping" a machine, the rest of the networking should follow nicely. 22..22.. DDooiinngg ssoommee tteellnneett aanndd ffttpp Try to log into the other computers using telnet. You may want to create some user accounts with _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f. 22..33.. CCrreeaattiinngg aa ffiillee sseerrvveerr Select one machine as the server. Using the _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f menu networking/exported file-systems, make available to some machine one subdirectory, say /tmp. Quit _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f and it will ask you if you want to activate the configuration changes. Let it do it. Now you have a file server. 22..44.. AAcccceessssiinngg tthhee sseerrvveerr With _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f, using the file-systems/Access nfs volume menu, select the /tmp directory from the server and select /server as the mount point. Save this configuration and quit Linuxconf. Execute the command mount -a and switch to the /server directory. You should see the files that are currently located in the /tmp directory of the server. 33.. CCoonncclluussiioonn A full tour of _L_i_n_u_x networking is beyond the scope of this help file. However, making it easier is the goal of _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f. Comments are welcome. Please direct them to: Jacques Gelinas jacques@solucorp.qc.ca