Re: Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS or ES for server?

[chuck gelm <chuck@gelm.net>]

Eve Atley wrote:
> We are a small company (less then 20 people) that is currently running
> Redhat Linux 9 as a fileserver. We have a firewall router set up currently
> that is wreaking havoc, and we had previously had used the Linux box as a
> firewall and router hooked up to our shared T1 line. We're looking to return
> to that system again. With cost as a factor, can we get away with Redhat
> Linux WS for this purpose?
> 
> Additionally, we had abandoned the Linux system as a firewall/router for 2
> reasons: to be less machine dependent, and because our ethernet cards kept
> insisting on switching upon reboots (thereby causing all sorts of problems).
> If we upgrade to ANY version of Redhat Enterprise, would this solve our
> issues at all, or are we totally barking up the wrong tree? The system
> should probably be upgraded anyway as the GUI is as slow as molasses.
> 
> 
> Thanks so much,
> Eve

  Hi, Eve:

  I see that there are several reponses already, but I thought I'd add my
2 cents... It seems to me that there was some unclear statements and
some assumptions or myths expressed.  You didn't explain
'wreaking havoc', but then again, you didn't request help with that
topic.

   Probably, any 'enterprise' distribution would suffice, so yes,
Redhat Linux WS would probably suffice.

  I would like to understand more about:
"ethernet cards kept insisting on switching upon reboots",
before responding about whether:
"ANY version of Redhat Enterprise would...solve our issues".
Please explain, more fully, your 'issues'.

  I do not understand your reference to 'the GUI' on a file server
(or router) unless it is also being used as a workstation.  One
might use a GUI application to configure a
'firewall/router/file-server', but a GUI is not needed for those
services to run.

  I am using an 80486dx33 system as a firewall/router with my home
cable-modem network.  I get just under 3 Megabit downloads, so anthing
equal or better should be enough for your shared 1 Megabit T1 service.
You didn't mention any hardware issues, so this information may not be
relevant to your situation.

  I am using Slackware v9.1, default kernel 2.4.22,
default IPTABLES v1.2.8, and an IPTABLES script slightly modified
from one I found posted on the internet.
http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/networking/homegateway.html#IPMASQSETTINGSETH
See the part 9.2.2 For iptables Users.  Your particular situation would
probably be satisfied by the appropriate configuration of IPTABLES.

In short, I think your solution is applications, tools, and
configuration
  dependant
and not distribution dependant.

HTH, Chuck