Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (3863 mails)

[gchris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Örn Hansen wrote:
> 
> lördag 28 februari 2004 02:04 skrev gchris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx:
> >
> > BTW, XP ICS can use two NICs or one NIC and a dialup modem or one NIC
> > and a USB connection to a cable/DSL modem.  Now tell me why I need a
> > $50 router to fix something that isn't broken? ;)
> > Chris
> 
>   A router is a cheap box, that doesn't draw much electricity and is quite
> stable.  It's a cheap, but relyable solution.  Your problem doesn't have to
> be, because MS has made it's own proprietary DHCP solution which isn't
> interoperaple with standard DHCP clients ... but the router thing, is a good
> solution none the less and is guaranteed to work.
>
You are absolutely correct from an engineering point of view.  If this
network was starting from scratch your approach is certainly the correct
one.  Unfortunately, this is a working, existing network where Linux is
trying to become a player.  The network works to M$ defined standards
(which admittedly are proprietary).  The question is, can Linux work
in this environment or must the network be redesigned to accommodate one
Linux box?  My thinking is that if Linux expects to take desktop business
away from M$ it had better be able to be a "drop in" replacement.

I fully agree that a dedicated router is a far more reliable solution 
than anything based on a PC, whether it is running Linux or Windows.  
But the first question to be answered is "Will a Linux box work here?",
not "How should the network be designed?".
Regards,
Chris