Amiga/Linux - Help wanted.

[SlimJim]

I wonder if I could have some hands-on help on this...?
 
The situation:
 
I have a linux box running RedHat 8.0. It has two ethernet
cards, one of them is connected to the network
(and internet) via dhcp. The other one is connected to my Amiga
(having an AriadneII and Miami) with the cable intended for
this purpose. I can click 'online' with Miami using this setup
and it won't complain. The Amiga is 192.168.1.2 whereas
eth1 (eth0 being the internet-connected card), has 192.168.1.1.
I have set the latter IP as gateway in Miami.
I can ping between the two computers without any
problems.
 
Now, I know, that for me to be able to share the internet
connection between my Amiga and my Linux box, the Linux
box have to do package-masquerading. That's where my
computer-savvy comes to an abrupt halt, though.
 
Anyone who can help? And please do not refer me to that
confusing Masquereading FAQ on the net! Some Redhat8.0-
specific info would be the most preferable, although all
guidance would be most appreciated.
 
No fancy stuff- I just need to get my Amiga up on the net
again!
.
SlimJim

[Desolator]

I'd suggest you head over to #linux.se at IRC.

server: irc.linux.se
channel name: #linux.se

or surf over to www.linux.se if the above doesn't work. They're really helpful when it comes to networking with Linux. I used to hang around there a lot about a year ago.

Edit: I thought RedHat had a graphical options program where one could select package masquerading by just adding the necessary info... and I belive SuSe got that too. Not sure though, I usually like to edit files and configs in Linux by command prompts..

[SlimJim]

I thought RedHat had a graphical options program where one could select package masquerading by just adding the necessary info... and I belive SuSe got that too. Not sure though, I usually like to edit files and configs in Linux by command prompts..

 
I thought so too. However I haven't found it. I'm really
looking for the quick and dirty step-by-step no-brain
solution here (I'm in something of a hurry).
Must I really thread into the dark realms of the Linux
community to get help on this?
.
SlimJim

[tonyw]

Sorry to be pessimistic, Jim, but I think it's going to be a problem. Maybe someone on the Bunny could help? There are or were several Linux users over there.

BTW, I tried to do almost the same thing here some months ago. I have a gateway running the LAN in our house here and connected the Ami up to it. I was unable to get Miami to handle the gateway, though. It kept on clearing the gateway address out to 255.255.255.255. Never did find out why, I had to use Genesis eventually. The gateway box runs MS-DOS.

tony

[lorddef]

You need some sort of software to do the NAT and routing stuff on the linux box.  I'm using Mandrake 8.1 here and in the setup when you install there is the option to set up as a server of any kind including a NAT, you can also do it in the RPM installer provided with the OS.

I'm sure redhat has something similar.

[clark]

I might be a good person to answer this, as I've set something like this up twice.

My last experiance with RedHat was with version 5.2, and that's been many a' year ago, but I'll see what I can do.

As root and replace $EXTIF with your outgoing ethernet, and $INTIF with your internal ethernet,

modprobe iptables_nat
modprobe ip_nat_ftp
modprobe ip_nat_irc
iptables -A FORWARD -i $EXTIF -o $INTIF -m state --state ESTABLISHED,RELATED -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -i $INTIF -o $EXTIF -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -j LOG
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o $EXTIF -j MASQUERADE

There should be three modprobe statemenst and four iptables statements.  After you do that then try to ping a website or something from your Amiga.  If it works, then it shall until you reboot the Linux box.

I'm unfamilier with RedHat's startup scripts, but I think that their located in rc.x, where X is a number between 0 and 6.  The directory that you want is probibly rc.3 or rc.4, find in one of those a file called network or firewall or something like that, and type the above commands into it, and it should load them on startup.

This is far from an elegant solution.  And let me say that I'm far from familiar with Redhat, so please excuse if any information is wrong.  Please make backups of the configuration scripts before editing them.

If I may also say, I don't think what you've setup is the best solution.  If I were you  I'd find an old PC (486's do nicely, in fact my gateway is a 486/33 with 16 mb of ram, and an 82 meg Harddrive, and it works great), put Linux on it (my Preference is Slackware, but and older Redhat or the New Debian should do nicely), and have it be a dedicated router running almost all the time.  That way you wouldn't have to wait for your PC to boot up to use the internet on your Miggy :-D

I hope this helps,

Clark

[Rigger]

For ease of use I have to recommend SME Server. If my no nothing about computers brother can set it up anyone can have their own server/gateway. I've used Mandrake, RedHat (SME Server is based on) and Debian but for just a simple server/gateway only soulution I use SME Server. I currently have it running on a PII/233 but originally I set it up on a 486/33. Plus it's priced right, free to download the basic setup.

[Seehund]

SlimJim wrote:

And please do not refer me to that
confusing Masquereading FAQ on the net!

Actually, that's what I'm gonna do.
I'm also running RH8 (well, 7.3 on the gateway box, but in this case it's no different).
I'm using the rc.firewall script from the IP-masquerade-HOWTO, which I start by calling it with a line in /etc/rc.local (remember to make rc.firewall executable...). Maybe you don't even have to read the HOWTO, the script is well commented where you'll have to edit it (your interface names, static IP (if any), et c.).

For this to work, you need to disable the iptables service that RH wants to run, because that will reset the rules set in your script (you can use the nice graphical "serviceconf" to disable this service).

You're supposed to be able to run "service iptables save" as root when you've run the script, and the ruleset set by the rc.firewall script is supposed to be saved (in /etc/sysconfig/iptables IIRC) for the "iptables" service to use, but I've never gotten that to work.

So, disable the iptables service and run the /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall script at boot from /etc/rc.local. Works for me.

[asian1]

See:

Connection Sharing Howto

Connection Sharing

Connection Sharing

[SlimJim]

Thanks for the suggestions people!
 
I'll sit down and diddle with it this week-end.
.
SlimJim

[ronybeck]

I'm unfamilier with RedHat's startup scripts, but I think that their located in rc.x, where X is a number between 0 and 6. The directory that you want is probibly rc.3 or rc.4, find in one of those a file called network or firewall or something like that, and type the above commands into it, and it should load them on startup.

x is actually the Run level in this context

An alternate method to this ( rather then randomly guess some rc.x folder to put a script in ) is to edit /etc/rc.d/rc.local.  This runs after the start up of the Linux is complete and is a good time to execute custom script.

You could enter what was suggested by Clark into /etc/rc.d/rc.local how ever this assumes that you are running iptables and you may not be.  if you don't you will need to put "modprobe iptables" as the line preceeding his suggestion.   I am pretty sure that by default iptables will be running.  My red hat box won't let me turn the it off even when disabled in the config.  :-/  how ever rmmod is my friend in this instance

If Internet Sharing still  fails there are severl things to check.

1) Firewall Rules.  If you have set up a firewall on the linux box and it doesn't allow any traffic through the fire wall then internet sharing is not going to work.  Firewall SYN packets only ( which are used to initiate TCP/IP connections ) for ports you need your amiga to access the internet via your Linux box.  This will allow returning "masqueraded" traffic through the firewall while keeping out nasty traffic from the outside.

2) Make sure that iptables is actually running.  Type "lsmod" and make sure you see the following
ip_tables
iptables_filter

3) check that the script Clark has suggested is actualy changed the ip table.  You do this by typing "iptables -L" ( case is important).  You should see some rules from the the Clark solution listed.  If you get an error that talks about IPTABLES not being compatible with your kernel thn iptables is not running.  See point 2.

if this failes pop me an email at ronybeckatozemail.com.au

Hope this helps

[SlimJim]

Yay!
 
Thanks to the invaluable help from you guys, my
Amiga has returned onto the 'web! It works flawlessly.
As a matter of fact, I am writing this on it.
:-D
 
...Now I think I'll go download IBrowse2.3 - Mohahahah!
 
Life shines.
.
SlimJim

[SlimJim]

...and IBrowse2.3 shines too. Half a year on
Linux and I already forgot the beauty (and speed) of downloading a program of mere 2.3 MB in size.
:-D
 
-Quick installation and an even quicker reboot
(to flush all libraries) and la voilá! Working
like a charm.
 The only thing is that my old monitor is feeling a little cramped after getting used to the Sony
Trinitron 20" of the linux box (alas, the amiga has no
gfx-card)..
:-/
.
SlimJim