Very Computer

Is it possible for many logged in users on a Linux machine,
to be able to access the internet at the same time, and
can this be done with only one modem and leased line/T1 line?
Or do you need a Modem pool?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards,
Andy Berg

Take a look at IP masquerading. Works like a charm.

Kind regards
Andrew  Higgs

AFAIK IP masquerading is only needed, if you want to use the linux box
as
Internet Router between a subnet with private IP numbers (like
192.168.xxx.xxx)
and another net (mainly PtP to the ISP).
It translates the private IP numbers into the official IP number, the
router gets
and back.
I use it to enable my Windoze boxes in my privat net to access the
internet via my
linux box with ISDN dial on demand. In this case the internet
applications are running
on the Windozs boxes.

But in the described case, if I understand it right, the users are all
logged on the
linux box (via XDMCP or so). This is essentially the same as if the
users are sitting
on the console. The internet applications are running on the linux box
and no IP masquerading
is needed. (I tried XDMCP form a Windoze to the linux box and it worked
without.)
And of course, a linux box can have more than one internet apps running
at the same time
and using the same internet connection.

Hope to get this right,

Andreas

Quote:>Is it possible for many logged in users on a Linux machine,
>to be able to access the internet at the same time, and
>can this be done with only one modem and leased line/T1 line?
>Or do you need a Modem pool?

A modem is connected to a single telephone line. Just as it is not
possible to talk to 20 different people on the same phone line, it is
not possible for your modem to talk to 20 different people. The second
person just gets a busy signal. However linux places no limit on how
many people can log in.

but nothing stops a user to use an connection that is already up.  all
users will have to live with reduced throuput, though.  you also better
make sure that it doesn't violate policies of your ISP (he might not
loke it)

--

Hartmann Schaffer

It is better to fill your days with life than your life with days

Man, what a dumb answer.

Yes it is possible for 20 different people logged in to a linux machine
to access the internet through a single modem or leased/T1 line at the
same time.  Might be a little slow over a modem. Granted, those 20
people cannot dial out to 20 different phone numbers over a single
modem, but that's not what the question was.

I hope Bill Unruh does physics better than he does Linux.

Yes.

Keep in mind that each interface can only be connected to one site at a
time.  If people are logging in by dialing into your modem, you
obviously can't have two people in at once.  If they're logging in via
IP (the T1 line or a local Ethernet), this isn't a concern, obviously.

Once you have a connection to the internet (say, via the T1), as many
users as you like can share it.  It's all IP packets.  Linux (and the
network) doesn't care if they all come from one application, from
multiple apps run by one user, or from multiple users.

Quote:> Or do you need a Modem pool?

Only if you want connections to/from multiple phone numbers at once.

-- David