Topic: Static IP's

[CT Jones]

i am sure i am missing something simple here but here it goes. I have SWBELL DSL with 5 static IP's. I perfer using Static IP's on my networked systems because not all things work with NAT. How do i set this up through e-smith server? I like the idea of the firewall so i want to continue to use the system as a gateway.

[Patrick Basile]

CT,

CT Jones wrote:
> goes. I have SWBELL DSL with 5 static IP's.

I assume you mean that SWBELL has assigned you 5 static "routable" IP's?

> I perfer using
> Static IP's on my networked systems because not all things
> work with NAT.

Not all things work with NAT, but most will - the application and/or the SME server probably needs to be setup or 'tweaked' a little.  You should post your NAT problem here, I bet one of these folks will be able to help you out.

 How do i set this up through e-smith server? I
> like the idea of the firewall so i want to continue to use
> the system as a gateway.

Here's the important part - if you use the static "routable" IP's on your desktop machines, those machines will be connected directly to the Internet via your DSL modem and will NOT have firewall protection.  This is a bad idea!  Of course if you go this route you should make sure to setup/use a personal firewall for EACH desktop.  BUT this is not the best way to go...

You should put ALL your desktop machines behind the SME server (operating in server and gateway mode), and give the external nic on the SME server one of those 5 static IP's, and then allow your desktop machines to get IP's from the SME server via DHCP.  If your NAT issues require that you setup a non-routable static IP (e.g. 192.168.1.x) for a machine you could do that after the fact.  The default SME setup gives plenty of room for static IP's below the start of the DHCP .65 address.

Anyway, I bet others will have some advice - but the most important (IMHO) is security - get those desktops BEHIND the SME server firewall as soon as possible!  Good luck.

Regards,
Patrick