3. Services and their settings
During setting up the router you'll be asked about different services. Here I'll try briefly describe them.
3.1 DNS Server
DNS server converts internet addresses between human readable form (example:
www.aha.ru) and computer readable form (example: 195.2.83.113) and back. This
local caching DNS server can reduce traffic between your local network and your
ISP and increase speed of connections to servers on the internet. If you don't
have DNS server on your local network it's highly recommended enable this
feature.
To set up DNS server you have to know the only one thing - your ISP DNS address.
Optional you may want to give good (human readable) names to computers on your
local network(s), then edit files:
a:\rc_named
a:\named.hst
a:\named10.rev
a:\named172.rev
a:\named192.rev
Consult manual at http://www.isc.org regarding BIND v4
3.2 DHCP Server
DHCP server provides automatic configurations of your local network(s)
computers. It makes life of network administrator much easy.
Every computer on network must have his own IP address and it must also know DNS
address, gateway address and probably WINS address (should you have it). DHCP
server supply every computer on your network with this information. All you need
is just enable using DHCP for configuration on your local clients and DHCP
server will do the rest, otherwise you have to enter all this addresses
manually. Briefly DHCP was invented by lazy people for lazy people.
It's a good idea to enable this service and never switch off your router as
any other servers.
NOTE: Don't enable this service if you already have DHCP server on your network,
there mustn't be more then one DHCP server on network.
You may optional provide WINS address to DHCP server (if you have WINS).
3.3 Time and Control Server
Time service.
What a nice idea to have time synchronized at all computer on your network and
even synchronized with atomic clock on internet. Huh? You like it? Either do I.
For setting up this function you must know host Time Server address and time
offset between your local time and UTC (GMT) time. Most ISPs have such service
and you can use their time server as a host for yours, ask your ISP about it.
Otherwise you have to use one of the free servers providing such service.
For-instance you can use this one:
www.clock.org
A lot of servers can be found at http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/ntp/clock2.htm,
choose closest to you.
Unfortunately FREESCO doesn't support daylight saving time changes, so if
it's used in your country you will have to correct "time offset" manually twice a year.
Control service.
It gives you an ability to control your router from web browser. Again for lazy
people :) You will have an ability to issue almost all Linux commands (of course
I'm talking about ones implemented in this router) from your web browser, you
will have almost full access to Linux shell. It's restricted to non dialog
command, for example you can't use edit command, but anyway you
will have a very good tool for maintaining your router. There is also
possibility to give limited control to trusted users, so they will be able to
bring up or down link to ISP in case of dialup router.
Both functions are non standard and realized via http server. If you
enable one of this functions you automatically enable the other one.
3.4 Telnet server
You can have full access to your router via telnet connection. Unlike http
control service it doesn't have any restrictions and you can edit your config
files from your workstation via telnet connection.
3.5 Web Server
Originally this router was not intended to act as a web server, but since
there is a http server for control and time purpose I've decided to run one more
copy of http server for user's purpose. So you can keep some html documents on
the router for your local network or even for whole world. Unfortunately there
are no any tools for uploading your documents in the router, you have to bring
your html files on a floppy disk and copy them manually.
3.6 Print Server
Steve Flynn donated me his Line Printer Server for this project. Let's all
together say - Thank you, Steve.
Setting up Windows clients is quite easy. Download windows driver and run it,
then follow instructions on the screen, you have to know your FREESCO IP address
and lp queue name (queue name is nt or lp).
3.7 Remote Access Server
How I'm lazy. I even made this thing to have access my router from home and I
also use it for free internet access from home through my permanent office ISDN
connection.
What can I say - be a provider, small but provider. Provide internet for yourself
and for your best friends. :)
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