Some network setup issues (Linux to internet via Windows)

Hi!

I have 2 computers connected via ethernet, one running Debian and the
other running Windows XP. The windows machine has a dial-up connection
to the internet, and I've enabled sharing on that connection. I've
also enabled routing in the registry. In the Linux machine, I've set
the gateway to the ethernet IP of the windows machine. Now the problem
is that although domain resolving works nice and fast, none of the
applications seem to be able to make any communication with the
internet. For example, Mozilla resolves the domain, then shows the
"connecting to..." message on the status bar till it times out. FTP
and telnet also wait endlessly trying the connect. The only thing that
works flawlessly is ping!

The other thing I would like to do is make the Linux machine
accessible from the internet. For example, if I host a site on Apache,
I would like to make it accessible from the internet. Can it be done?

I'm relatively new to Linux, having started with Red Hat 6.2 quite a
long time ago and now working with Debian after a long break. So
please excuse me if I've asked something stupid. Also, I know it would
be better if I had the internet connection on my Linux machine and
connected the Windows PC to it, but I can't do it because AFAIK my
modem (Rockwell HCF PCI) is not supported in Linux.

Any help appreciated, thank you! :)

Debarka

Hi,

> I have 2 computers connected via ethernet, one running Debian and the
> other running Windows XP. The windows machine has a dial-up connection
> to the internet, and I've enabled sharing on that connection. I've
> also enabled routing in the registry. In the Linux machine, I've set
> the gateway to the ethernet IP of the windows machine. Now the problem
> is that although domain resolving works nice and fast, none of the
> applications seem to be able to make any communication with the
> internet. For example, Mozilla resolves the domain, then shows the
> "connecting to..." message on the status bar till it times out. FTP
> and telnet also wait endlessly trying the connect. The only thing that
> works flawlessly is ping!

Maybe you should check your firewall settings at your XP box.
Since it is an online box, you most likely have some firewall
on it. Maybe the built-in PFW?
Ok, set it up right and it should work.
If you use the built-in FW, you will need to get a real one,
cause afaik it can't be setup in detail (ok, i'm not
using XP so i might be wrong).


>
> The other thing I would like to do is make the Linux machine
> accessible from the internet. For example, if I host a site on Apache,
> I would like to make it accessible from the internet. Can it be done?

Of course it can be. You need some advances FW/routing config on your
XP machine. It needs to forward port 80 to your linux box.
But i don't know how to setup XP for doing so.
Maybe again you need some add. software (i have heard of something
like WinRoute). Try to ask in a windows related NG.

> connected the Windows PC to it, but I can't do it because AFAIK my
> modem (Rockwell HCF PCI) is not supported in Linux.

Hm, search your kernel-docs, maybe it is. Otherwise look it up on the net.
someone might have created a driver......

HTH

Ralf

Hiya, this problem is caused by Windows's 2nd rate internet connection
sharing. It creates MTU problems which stop big packets from going
through, this is why you can resolve names but not browse.

To work around the problem change the MTU on Linux to 1432 with this
command... 'ifconfig eth0 mtu 1432'. You can put this in
/etc/rc5.d/S99local to make it stay like that. Either way I would strongly
recommend connecting through Linux, it is many many times more reliable.

Kind regards
Michael Collard

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 02:38:57 -0700, Debarka Banik wrote:

> Hi!
>
> I have 2 computers connected via ethernet, one running Debian and the
> other running Windows XP. The windows machine has a dial-up connection
> to the internet, and I've enabled sharing on that connection. I've
> also enabled routing in the registry. In the Linux machine, I've set
> the gateway to the ethernet IP of the windows machine. Now the problem
> is that although domain resolving works nice and fast, none of the
> applications seem to be able to make any communication with the
> internet. For example, Mozilla resolves the domain, then shows the
> "connecting to..." message on the status bar till it times out. FTP
> and telnet also wait endlessly trying the connect. The only thing that
> works flawlessly is ping!
>
> The other thing I would like to do is make the Linux machine
> accessible from the internet. For example, if I host a site on Apache,
> I would like to make it accessible from the internet. Can it be done?
>
> I'm relatively new to Linux, having started with Red Hat 6.2 quite a
> long time ago and now working with Debian after a long break. So
> please excuse me if I've asked something stupid. Also, I know it would
> be better if I had the internet connection on my Linux machine and
> connected the Windows PC to it, but I can't do it because AFAIK my
> modem (Rockwell HCF PCI) is not supported in Linux.
>
> Any help appreciated, thank you! :)
>
> Debarka

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, it was the firewall. I'm using Kerio Personal Firewall and it has
a 'gateway' mode, but as I'm using the free version that mode is
disabled. I need to look for another one. The XP firewall can be
configured by making entries for ports and protocols (TCP/UDP) you
want to allow. I don't know how good that is.

I found a driver for my modem (www.linuxant.com), but it's not free.
There is a free version available, but it limits connect speed to
14.4kbps.

Thanks again for the help!

Regards,
Debarka