[aclug-L] router for Windows LAN

[glandix@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

ok, here's what i need...  i need to know how to connect a bunch of
networked Win9x computers to the internet via one modem connection (for
one of my clients)...  how is the best way to do this?  i need
dial-on-demand capabilities (they don't want to be online all the time,
just when neccessary)...  

what i'm thinking of doing (pending their approval) is installing a 486
they have on-hand w/ Debian (or possibly one of the
micro-distributions) as the router (is that the correct term?) and
integrating it w/ the current Win9x network (that also has one *NIX box
that's the server for some software they run)...

basically, here's what i need / know about the network:
- they're all windoze boxes that need access
- they have a modem connection (via one of the win boxes for now)
- they want to share this connection w/ all of the win boxes on the net
- they don't want to be connected 24/7, just when neccessary (diald?)
- they all have IP's designated (no DHCP on the LAN), but they are not
  "real" IP's (just local)
- they have an old 486 currently doing nothing (i assume the modem will
  work in the computer, but do not currently know... it may be PCI, and
  I don't know if the 486 has PCI...)
- they DON'T want to have to manually dial up on the computer w/ the
  modem every time some arbitrary computer wants to use inet
- no e-mail or any other inet stuff is needed, they just need to be able
  to browse the web on their win boxes and download PostScript files to
  print...

also, by integrating the Debian (?) box into the network, is it
possible to use it as the main print server for 2 Lexmark printers
networked in?  i don't know much about the existing *NIX server they
use to run their software on (via telnet-ish programs), all i know is
it's not linux, and it's proprietary (Reynolds & Reynolds doesn't want
me messing around on it)... or how exactly these Lexmark printers are
networked in (they are not connected to any of the Win boxes' lpr
ports...)

ANY information is MORE than appreciated!!!!!!!

Jesse Kaufman
-- 
<<<Linux lloydix 2.2.13 #8 Wed Dec 22 02:31:05 CST 1999 i586 unknown>>>

Love isn't hopeless.  Look, maybe I'm no expert on
the subject, but there was one time I got it right.

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