Topic: Accessing a second e-smith box

[Alec Norek]

I have a second e-smith server (server only mode), on my internal network.  My main e-smith has a domain name etc.  Is there a way that I can access this second unit via the internet?

[Eric Womack]

If you will give me a little more information (perhaps an example) I could help you.  Your question is a little too broad for a quick answer.

Eric

[Alec Norek]

Thanks Eric for attempting to help.  I will try to be a bit more specific.

I have my main e-smith (192.168.1.1) running e-smith ver 4.0 with a domain name and several virtual domains all visible on the internet.  I also have 2 win98se clients via DHCP and a second e-smith box (192.168.1.10) running e-smith ver 4.1, on my internal network.  I have assigned a real domain name to my second e-smith and  can access it via the network by its assigned internal IP but when I try www.domain.com, I get my primary website on my main e-smith instead.

I use this second e-smith for testing purposes as I am loathe to stuff up my main web server, which is getting some serious work on it now.  If I can get this second e-smith visible to the Internet, then I can do things like try the latest rpms, updates, allow public access without any security fears because it is only a test bed.

[Eric Womack]

OK, if all you want to do is view web pages from your second box on the net while still retaining all your doing with your first, do this.

Create an i-bay for your second box to claim as its own
Create a virtual domain on your first box that is the name of the domain you use for the second box using the above i-bay
From a shell on the first box, mount the location of the website you want to see from the second box to the location of the i-bay on the first box.  For example, if the web site on the second box is the primary web site and the name of the i-bay on the first box is website2 then you would type:

mount -t smbfs -o username=admin,password=ADMINPASSWORD //192.168.1.10/primary /home/e-smith/files/ibays/website2

You will have to, of course, replace ADMINPASSWORD with your real password.  If you like the results, and want it to happen everytime just add the line to your rc.local file.

However, if you want to use all the other features of the system, you will have to split your internet connection between the two systems.  For example, if you have a cable modem connection you would place a hub after the cable modem and connect each box to the hub.  One would become your "production" box and one would become your "test bed" box.  This kind of division is quite wise when doing test work like this.

[Alec Norek]

Thanks for your speedy reply - very much appreciated.  The second option is what I want - bleeding obvious when you think about it.  Will try it as soon as I get my hands on a second hub.

[Charlie Brady]

Alec Norek wrote:
>
> Thanks for your speedy reply - very much appreciated.  The
> second option is what I want - bleeding obvious when you
> think about it.

It might seem bleeding obvious, but it may not work. It won't work, unless you use only one box at a time, or your ISP routes more than one IP address over your cable modem.

Charlie

[Eric Womack]

> It might seem bleeding obvious, but it may not work. It won't
> work, unless you use only one box at a time, or your ISP
> routes more than one IP address over your cable modem.
>
> Charlie

Thats true.  In my area, cable modem users recieve up to 8 DHCP address from the ISP.

Eric

[Alec Norek]

That's put an end to that experiment !!
Thanks for your input.
Alec

[Alec Norek]

Eric,  Didn't see your reply.  Guess I'll just have to give it a try and see what happens.  Thank you again.  ...............Alec

[Alec Norek]

Charlie Brady wrote:
>
> Alec Norek wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for your speedy reply - very much appreciated.  The
> > second option is what I want - bleeding obvious when you
> > think about it.
>
> It might seem bleeding obvious, but it may not work. It won't
> work, unless you use only one box at a time, or your ISP
> routes more than one IP address over your cable modem.
>
> Charlie

IF (BIG IF), I do get a second IP address assigned, then do I have to get a DYDNS provider to point it at my second e-smith, or can I provide DNS from the first e-smith?.

[Eric Womack]

> IF (BIG IF), I do get a second IP address assigned, then do I
> have to get a DYDNS provider to point it at my second
> e-smith, or can I provide DNS from the first e-smith?.

From DYDNS as it will operate as a completely seperate server.  Along those same lines, be sure you enable all the remote admin (ssh, ftp) you feel you will need.  Keep in mind that even though the machine will only be a few feet from you that you will have to treat it like a remote unit.

Eric