Using NIT in a home network?
 

Hi folks -- a couple of pre-buy questions:

1. At home, I run two Windows machines (one XP, one Vista) in a WiFi network with cable/RoadRunner Internet service. If I bring an NIT into the house, will it be able to do file sharing with the Windows machines, drag-n-drop like I can do now between the two PCs?

2. If I get an NIT with WiMax, can I dump RoadRunner, and use WiMax as my main ISP? -- in other words, will the NIT function as a router/modem for the Windows PCs, allowing them to connect to the Net thru the WiMax connection?

Thanks --

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

1. Yes, since OS 2008, the tablets talk SMB and can thus work with Windows shares. You cannot share folders on the tablet, but you can setup a share on Windows and access it from the tablet. I think the share must be public without password protection, though.

2. No, it won't work as a router for your PC. Theoretically it could be done, but it's pretty advanced stuff and not everything you need is preinstalled on the tablet (e.g. NAT iptables module).

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

Hi, thanks for the info.

Regarding #2, I'm a "pretty advanced" guy, although I haven't done any Unix programming in a couple of decades :^) . Is source code available for the necessary software, such as the AT you mentioned? Is this project just a port, or is real development work needed?

Thanks again --

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

Kent, I wish I could help you more, but just read up on the iptables/routing. AFAIK there's no dhcp-server available for NITs as well, so you will probably need to set up static IPs on WiFi interfaces if you want to exclude the router.

PS. I keep plugging a non-related piece of software, I'll do it again -- the dd-wrt and openwrt projects have forums with many folks who know everything there is to know about iptables so if you get really stick it might be a good place to ask.

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

It's not about programming. It's about finding/compiling the missing iptables kernel module to enable NAT functionality and configuring iptables to forward packages. There are some howtos available for this. You'll also have to manually enable IP forwarding in the kernel with
as root.

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

This is a complex question because there are many things to consider.

First you'd have to read through your AUP if this is legal.

Second, is your WiMAX connectivity good or good enough in house?

Third, as soon as more people start using WiMAX your speed will lower. You cannot depend on it for a certain bandwidth (unless by contract?).

Four, do you have any bandwidth limits or FUPs on the WiMAX contract? Probably they're not gonna like it if you're going to run a local alt.binaries.* mirror.

Five, now some general statements: assuming you can get the necessary modules compiled you cannot use the WiFi chip in AP/master mode. I think it can do adhoc/infrastructure, else you'd have to use your USB (or BlueTooth). The NIT can only handle _that_ much throughput. Will it be able to do this? Will you get maximum speed? What is the added latency? You could run Privoxy (in Extras-Devel) and set in your browser PC the IP address of the NIT as proxy. Let Privoxy listen on all interfaces and put your PC IP address in the ACL accept list. Now you won't need any IPT or routing magic. In any case, using this as proxy might also be a way for you as 'backup' connection. Before unsubscribing RoadRunner I'd first test this out very well.

One thing I know pretty sure. Nobody here tried this yet. You can be the first :)

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

You can use WinSCP to access the NIT's complete file system from your windows machine (not sure about vista, though). Just enter your NIT's local IP address and voila. I have set up a user and root password for my tablet, but I forget now how to do that. Sounds like with your background you'll know. Oh, and one more thing: you'll want to "wake" up your tablet by accessing a random site just before you try to access it via WinSCP from your windows box. Otherwise, it might not see that your NIT is actually on your network.

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

I tried to do some firewall on n770HE but kernel lacked modules to manage packets.
I was able to limit incoming connections but without return channels for outgoing ones (state - related).

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

I haven't tried it yet.. but if you load Easy Debian or Deblet I think setting up an Iptables router could work.

Like someone said - you won't be able to use the NIT as a HOST wireless AP... but you could use it as the default GW (in theory).

There's some graphical tools for it too... Firestarter, fwbuilder (Firewall Builder), bifrost, Guarddog... Most of these available right in the Debian repo's.

There is also scripts available ( I used these on my CLI only servers, monMotha's was always good to me - but it isn't updated anymore, and a pain to find. )

http://www.oats.org.uk/linux/rc.firewall-2.3.8-pre9

Since you're talking of using for tablet for things beyond what it was really meant for.. may as well use an OS that was not designed for a tablet..

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

Perhaps using a WiMAX chip in the computer, having only one of them connected at a time, would work as well?

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

Haven't done it, but I think the easiest way to switch to a WiMAX uplink is probably a USB WiMAX card and one of the open router firmwares (dd-wrt, openwrt, etc.) on a suitable router.

Re: Using NIT in a home network?
 

Wow, I didn't know I can hack my router??? Where can I get this firmware, and what's a "suitable" router? Got a link for more info on this?

Thanks --

Re: Using NIT in a home network?