The story of the 'Coyle Net' Way back many years ago, we had just one computer. Then my wife decided the kids and I were hoggin' all the computer time, so she TOLD me to go get another one for her! (she's turned into such a computer geek ;) I knew if I simply put together another box, I'd also have to do the printer thing, and then the fight would be for the phone lines... I decided to wire the house and do things right! A little planning and tape measure work, a trip to the local electronics warehouse, a trip to Home Depot and I was off! The downstairs computer hutch became the central wiring location. I figured out the best spot to put a 4-jack RJ-45 box and pulled CAT-5 cable to each bedroom (we have 3, the 4th jack is a spare). Each bedroom has a single RJ-45 wall jack. So here's what I've got: | ISDN TA | | +====+ Linux printer -----| | firewall/IPchains/NAT | | Samba file/print server +----+ Squid / Junkbuster | | +-------------+ +-----| 10/100 hub | +-------------+ | | | | | | | | | | test box ----+ | | | +--- Master bedroom | | +------ kid's room downstairs PC --+ +--------- kid's room The Linux firewall, test box and downstairs PC are all in the same area (along with the printer, hub, UPS, and ISDN TA). I have just one monitor that I switch with a ABCD box. The keyboards I move around. (Still can't find a cheap keyboard, video, mouse switch)! The Linux server, in addition to doing the file/printer sharing (via Samba), does dial-on-demand Internet access. No need to manually dial before connecting to the 'Net! Just fire up the browser and BANG! - too cool! I'm also running a firewall, IP Masquerading (network address translation or NAT), Squid (an Internet caching service) and Junkbuster (a banner ad blocker). All on a P90! IPMasq lets me setup my household network with 192.168.xxx.xxx IP numbers and my ISP assigns a single address to the server when I connect (via DHCP). The Linux box handles all the routing and address translation for me. It's really a slick setup. To help with your project estimates, here's a breakdown of my costs for doing this (of course your mileage will vary): 200 feet of bulk CAT-5 $85.00 4 RJ-45 single wall jacks 13.00 1 4-jack RJ-45 wall plate 7.00 8 misc. patch cables (wall to PCs) 25.00 4 electrical wall boxes 5.00 drywall patching 10.00 wall texture 5.00 paint (free - had some) 0.00 ====== 150.00 1 8-port 10/100 hub 90.00 5 10Mb cards 10.00 5 100Mb cards 25.00 ====== 125.00 old Pent. 90 box 75.00 SCSI disks/controller free from friend 2 extra fans for cooling 15.00 ABCD video monitor switch 15.00 UPS 80.00 ====== 175.00 ======= ======= $450.00 Don't forget to include your labor and time costs... It took me most of a weekend to get the CAT-5 pulled (we have a two story house which complicated things). Then a few more nights to finish the drywall and painting. Of course the network and computer tweaking is a never ending process! ;) Is this the right solution for you? Only you can answer that! But it sure is a great idea and highly recommend doing it! Check out the following: Squid Internet Object Cache http://squid.nlanr.net/ The Internet Junkbuster Home Page http://internet.junkbuster.com/ Linux IP Masquerade Resource http://ipmasq.cjb.net/ http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dranch/PPP/linux-masq-ppp-setup.txt LG - Setting up your network http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue26/kunz.html LG - DNS for the Home network http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue44/pollman/dns.html LG - Mail for the Home network http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue45/pollman/mail.html Squid and Junkbuster are 'proxies' (ie acting on the behalf of the clients). Squid caches Internet pages, and Junkbusters blocks banner ads. IP masquerading hides the client addresses from the world (allowing you to use non-routable Private Network Numbers on the clients). PPPD and dial on demand allows your server to connect to the 'Net without any special actions by the clients (no need to manually dial up the ISP).