Very Computer

I'm trying to take advantage of this high-bandwidth Internet
connection to install Linux. Debian has this apt utility which allows
this method of install.

Problem:
When 'apt' (via 'dselect') tries to get a connection to the URL, it is
unsuccessful. What is the missing link? I can ping the WinNT system on
the LAN without a problem. However, I can't ping any public IP
addresses. Do I need masquerade package installed on the Linux system
first? I thought IP masquerading was only required on the server
machine?

Conceptually, I know that I need IP address translation. I'm just not
sure which system is responsible, etc.

Using manual labor, I was able to copy enough of the debian mirror to
install a basic system off of my local filesystem. However, it is
tedious and I'd just like to point 'apt' at a mirror and be done with
the hassles of moving around directories from one system to another.

[Please don't recommend setting up the Linux system as the Internet
server. I knew it is better than any Windows based gateway. :O I have
no authroity over the other system and its connection.  :)

Thanks.

Quote:> I have a Windows NT 4.0 system that has Internet access,
> SprintBroadband. This WinNT system is also networked to another
> Windows system on a simple home LAN (hub, 3 NICs (2 for the WinNT
> gateway machine and the other Windows system)). Intenet access is
> served up via NAT.

> I'm trying to take advantage of this high-bandwidth Internet
> connection to install Linux. Debian has this apt utility which allows
> this method of install.

> Problem:
> When 'apt' (via 'dselect') tries to get a connection to the URL, it is
> unsuccessful. What is the missing link? I can ping the WinNT system on
> the LAN without a problem. However, I can't ping any public IP
> addresses. Do I need masquerade package installed on the Linux system
> first? I thought IP masquerading was only required on the server
> machine?

> Conceptually, I know that I need IP address translation. I'm just not
> sure which system is responsible, etc.

> Using manual labor, I was able to copy enough of the debian mirror to
> install a basic system off of my local filesystem. However, it is
> tedious and I'd just like to point 'apt' at a mirror and be done with
> the hassles of moving around directories from one system to another.

> [Please don't recommend setting up the Linux system as the Internet
> server. I knew it is better than any Windows based gateway. :O I have
> no authroity over the other system and its connection.  :)

> Thanks.

What is the default gateway of the linux box?  Is it the IP address of the
NT box doing NAT?  What are the contents of the /etc/resolv.conf file on the
linux box?  Is it the DNS of the ISP?  Can you ping a numeric IP address and
not a named address?

With linux, just bring down the ethernet interface with a suitable command,
bring it backup and then assign a default route which will coincide with the
IP address of the NT box which does NAT for you.  The command for the route
will take the form of "route add default gw 192.168.0.1" or whatever the IP
address of teh NT box could be.   Then move to /etc/network and edit the
file to make the changes stick with the next reboot.

--
Michael Perry

--------------------

Quote:> What is the default gateway of the linux box?  Is it the IP address of the
> NT box doing NAT?  What are the contents of the /etc/resolv.conf file on the
> linux box?  Is it the DNS of the ISP?  Can you ping a numeric IP address and
> not a named address?

The default gateway of the linux box is my Windows NT system. I did
not use the named address in my resolv.conf file, instead, I used the
IP address; it is not the IP address of my ISP.

Yes, I can ping both the numeric IP address and the named address of
the Windows NT system on my LAN.

Quote:> With linux, just bring down the ethernet interface with a suitable command,
> bring it backup and then assign a default route which will coincide with the
> IP address of the NT box which does NAT for you.  The command for the route
> will take the form of "route add default gw 192.168.0.1" or whatever the IP
> address of teh NT box could be.   Then move to /etc/network and edit the
> file to make the changes stick with the next reboot.

    "route add default gw <IP_address>"

Because 'man' pages are not installed on my linux, I tried to RTFM
using the wonderful on-line linux man pages at:

   http://linux.ctyme.com/

Hummm, the man page for route(8) did not reference a config file that
would go into my /etc/network directory.

on the command line, I did type in the command:

   "route add default gw <IP_address>"

and got an error message:

SIOCADDRT:: File exists

So, that's how far along I am. I know now that I had to tell the os
explicitly that there is a gateway. I'm getting close.

Next steps please.

Thanks.