Hello.

1. I plan on hooking up my two PCs with a router. One is running Microsucks 98SE, and the other will be running Mandrake Linux. I will be hooking it all up with a Linksys router, which will be connected to a 3com cable modem. I have yet to purchase/obtain Mandrake Linux, so this question might be answered upon obtaining it, but can I host my own domains using Linux and a router? Specifically, can I host more than one domain? I have about ten that I purchased, and it would be great to have all of them on one machine (it isn't a commercial site, so I wouldn't have tons of people accessing each domain). Does Mandrake Linux come with web hosting software, and if so, is it possible to have multiple domains hosted? If not, what Linux program would?

2. If it is possible to do the above, is it possible to do it with a router? I ask because it is my understanding that routers give each PC hooked up a non-routable IP number (192.168.xxx.xxx, I believe). If this is true (and stop me if I am wrong), how would the "outside world/Internet" know that my domains are at my computer? Would all 10 domains show up as the same IP address that my cable/broadband company gives me?

3. Subnetting. Does/can my router somehow subnet my IP address? Let's say my IP address is 25.25.25.25. Can my router give my domains the IP address 25.25.25.25-35? Or does that pose a conflict with other people that might have IP address' in that range? I haven't quite figured out this subnetting thing yet.

Any help/comments/suggestions would be helpful. Thank you.

gomer1701ems

Well as far as I know, I think you should be able to set this up. If you notice, the Linksys router refers to using or routing particular requests for certain machines.
Say for instance, in the setup menu, you can specify what IP address to go to if someone was trying to telnet in.

Example:

Router IP address is 24.x.x.x,
You have two machines on your router which are say
192.168.x.2
192.168.x.3

Someone from the outside world telnets to your IP address 24.x.x.x, the router picks up that it is a telnet session and you set it up for a telnet session to be routed to your machine with an IP address of 192.168.x.2

I have only read some of the manual and I do know for sure you can do this type of routing, I am not positive if it supports a http request. But same concept if it does.

Most likely all 10 of your domains would have to have the same IP address with this type of setup.

And yes, Mandrake and almost any Linux Distro comes with the fabulous Apache for free for all your hosting solutions. Well, you might want to use it anyways cause about 60% of the web is using it.

Hope any of this helps.

yeah thats right. the linksys router allows you to port forward, say all web connections (port 80) to any internal ip address. Yes you can also host multiple domains, just by telling internic (or whoever your domain register is) that the ip address is your primary name server.
Might check with you cable company before you do it. (Last year when living in El Paso, Tx they (time warner) canceled my account twice for running "servers" over my cable. However this year, a buddy of mine has been hosting a few domains for well over 8 months, without a comment from time warner. Linksys router has a very nice setup might i add.

If ya wanna save money, just get another network card for the mandrake machine, set it up as a router then run the windows 98se machine through that!

Im trying to get a friend to write a how-to on it, if he does, ill post the link for ya

Port scan; what does that involve? I mean, I kind of know, but how do they do it? How can they tell if I am running a server on my computer? I looked at my Terms of Service, and ATT Broadband says that I can't set up any commercial server. To me, that means I can't start charging for anything on my server. Any suggestions, comments, etc. would be great. Thanks.

Gomer1701ems

P.S. Here is the TOS part about web servers:

10.2 AT&T will provide You with dynamic IP connection(s) as a component of the Road Runner Service. You agree not to alter, modify, or tamper with the dynamic IP connection or those of any customer on the system. You agree not to use a dynamic DNS to associate a host name with Your dynamic IP connection for any commercial purpose. You also agree not to use any software on or in conjunction with any computer(s) or network device connected to the Road Runner Service which provides for static IP connections. If applicable, AT&T will take back the dynamic IP connection upon disconnection, discontinuance, or termination of the Road Runner Service.

[Edited by gomer1701ems on 02-16-2001 at 12:02 PM]

yeh, sounds to mee if you dont do anything under a business, they dont care. go for it, the TOS is not clear, you wont get any legal action filed against you, unless of course your offering kiddie pr0n or something. I say go for it!

Portscanning is used for example to test your system/servers for open connections to the net. The portscanning utility tries to connect to your IP using different ports, preset or randomly.

When your computer recieves a request on a port it can do any of three things:
1. Allow connection and forward the communication to an appropriate program, for example port 80 usually gets linked to apache or any other webserver.
2. Deny access.
3. Ignore the request resulting in a time-out at the requesting computer.

Alt 1 is needed to communicate but oftenly a system has more services open than are utilized.
Alt 2 has the disadvantage of revealing your presence to the remote user.
Alt 3 is most secure for ports/services you don't use since the remote computers can't tell if you are there or if the IP adress unused.