
Ethernet Interface Configuration for your Local Network(s)
In this section, you must define the interface card parameters
necessary to satisfy the needs of your local network(s). Some of them may
have been chosen already during the installation or a previous
configuration and/or filled in with standard values. Make the
necessary modifications to answer your present needs.
Connected to the Zone Name |
lan |
You must choose which kind of network this interface will be
attached to. Here are your choices:
- LAN, or systems in your local network(s). These systems must
be protected from the Internet and from the DMZ and, in some cases,
from each other. Choose this zone to define your local
network;
- DMZ, which stands for Demilitarized Zone. Choose this zone if
your systems must be accessible from the Internet and from the
local network;
- WAN - wide area network. It can be either public or private
and it ensures interconnection between computer networks outside of
your LAN (e.g. the Internet). Select this type of zone to be
connected directly to the outside world.
Fill out this field if you have a static IP address for that
interface. This is your server's address: it is essential
since the client systems will refer to that one.
Subnet Mask (ex.: 255.0.0.0) |
255.255.255.0 |
In this field, enter the name of the subnet mask related to the
network to which this interface is connected.
Now, set the boot protocol to be used when this interface is
initialized. For example, if this interface is connected to the WAN
zone, this usually depends on the protocol used by your ISP. Select
the appropriate value from the pull-down list on the right:
- Static. This is a permanent IP address assigned to your
machine;
- DHCP. This is a dynamic IP address assigned to your machine
at boot time. Most cable and DSL ISPs use some form of DHCP to assign
an IP to your system. Also, workstations should be set this way to
simplify network management;
- bootp. Allows a Linux machine to retrieve its networking
information from a server through the network.
Then, you can decide whether or not you want this interface to
be activated on each boot.
DHCP Client (optional) |
dhcpd |
This field allows you to choose which kind of DHCP client will be
used in your network. You may select one of the following:
- dhcpcd - client daemon which gets an IP address and other
information from the DHCP server, automatically configures the
network interface, and tries to renew the lease time according to
RFC2131 or RFC1541 (the latter, however, is considered obsolete);
- pump - client daemon for BOOTP and DHCP. It enables your
machine to retrieve configuration information from a server.
- dhclient - with it, you can configure one or more network
interfaces using either the DHCP or BOOTP protocol;
- dhcpxd - its main goal is to conform to the DHCP
specification defined in RFC2131. It supports one process per
session and is also able to manage all-in-one-process sessions. One
of its most advanced features resides in scripts which are run when
needed, in order to configure everything required for setting up
interfaces.
Finally, you may choose to fill in the DHCP Hostname (optional)
field with the appropriate value.