The OfficeServer allows you to configure various settings for connecting to the network, and connecting to the NetWinder. Together, these options are called the Network Settings.
You can reach the main Network Settings web page by clicking Network from the Administration page.
The ethernet settings affect how your NetWinder connects to its local ethernet network. If you have a cable or DSL modem or an external router to the internet, you will also use ethernet settings to configure internet access.
Firewall settings restrict access to your NetWinder from certain sites on the internet. If your NetWinder is acting as a router, you can also block certain sites from reaching others through the router.
If your NetWinder is acting as a router, you can also use Port forwarding settings to redirect requests from one server to another.
The DNS server is responsible for converting Internet domain names, like www.rebel.com, into IP addresses, like 192.168.42.43. You can set up your own name-to-address mappings in the DNS configuration.
Your NetWinder has a serial port to which you can attach an external modem used to connect to the internet through any standard internet service provider. To do this, use the PPP dialer configuration screen.
To share your NetWinder's files with Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX computers, you will need to use the file sharing configuration panel.
Your NetWinder has two ethernet interfaces: a 10/100 Mbit ethernet, called eth1, for communicating with local workstations, and a second 10 Mbit ethernet, called eth0, for optionally communicating with a cable/xDSL modem or an external router.
The ethernet configuration page looks like this:
If you click on Change these parameters, you will then see the following page:
It consists of three parts: Network Parameters, Eth1 Parameters, and Eth0 Parameters.
The Network Parameters section allows you to change the following options for the entire NetWinder:
Hostname. This is the base name of your NetWinder. For example, if your NetWinder is called netwinder.rebel.com, you would enter netwinder here.
Domain name. This is the domain name of your NetWinder. If your NetWinder is called netwinder.rebel.com, you would enter rebel.com here.
Gateway address. If you are using a cable/xDSL modem or external router, you can tell your NetWinder to direct all of its internet traffic through the router, which will be your default gateway. You need to enter the IP address (e.g. 192.168.42.1) of your router here, if you have one. Otherwise, fill in the address of the NetWinder itself.
DNS Nameserver(s). A DNS nameserver is responsible for converting internet domain names, such as www.rebel.com, into IP addresses, such as 192.168.42.43. The NetWinder includes a DNS server, but if you already have one or more, you can tell your NetWinder to use that one (or those ones) instead. Enter one or more IP addresses here, separated by spaces.
To use your NetWinder's internal DNS server, enter 127.0.0.1 (a 'magic' number that means "use the lo-cal host") here.
NOTE: If you enter more than one DNS server, your NetWinder will always use the first server unless the first server is down. That means if the first server can't find an address and reports "no such hostname, " the NetWinder will not ask the second or additional servers for more information.
Packet forwarding. If this is set to Yes, your NetWinder will act as a router (also known as a gateway) and allow other workstations on your network to access the internet via your NetWinder. Of course, this is only useful if you have configured the NetWinder to be able to access the internet either by setting the Gateway address on this page, or by configuring the PPP dialer.
To prevent other computers on your network from accessing the internet via your NetWinder, or if your NetWinder cannot reach the internet, you should set this option to No.
The Eth0 and Eth1 Parameters sections allow you to change the following options for each ethernet device:
Configuration mode. This is either static, dynamic, or inactive. In static configuration mode, you must provide the IP address and netmask (see following) for the device by entering them below. In dynamic mode, your NetWinder will request its address and netmask from an external DHCP server on your (or your ISP's) network, and you need not provide the addresses using this screen. An inactive interface is disabled altogether.
NOTE: The Eth1 (10/100 Mbit) interface cannot be set to dynamic, because your NetWinder is a server and therefore requires a consistent address.
For more information on the NetWinder's DHCP server, see the section called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration) Server.
IP address. If this interface is configured in static mode, you need to provide an IP address for your NetWinder to use on this interface. A NetWinder is not allowed to use the same IP address on both eth0 and eth1. A sample value for this field is 192.168.1.12.
If this interface is configured in dynamic mode, you do not need to provide an IP address.
Note: Be careful when changing this value on the Eth1 (10/100 Mbit) device. You are using the ethernet interface to configure your NetWinder. If you make a mistake here, you will be locked out and unable to repair the problem without using a keyboard and monitor directly on the NetWinder.
Netmask. If this interface is configured in static mode, you need to provide the netmask. Normally, every computer on a single ethernet network will use the same netmask. The netmask is often 255.255.255.0 or 255.255.0.0.
If this interface is configured in dynamic mode, you do not need to provide a netmask.
When you have finished making changes, press the Submit button to make them permanent.