Linux/samba & apache?

dont know where to start

[operafan]

Hi, nix world newbie. Would somehow like to connect all windoz pc to a linux 7.3 pc, with file sharing & printing capablity.

So my question is if I pick redhat 7.3, I'll have to install the server option or can i install all?
After that I would like to use it as a proxy server so all win pc can go through it - so I read that I will need to use squid? I also read recently that apache 2 has proxy server included - so can I use that instead?
After that comes the file sharing, so I would need to install samba server? If samba is installed will I need apache to use as a local server instead?

Lastly after installing all that successfully, I should use IPchains to configure the security?

I would just like to know the sequence & any good docs to read up - preferably step by step?

Thanks

[ORBiTrus]

I've not yet played with security (aside from thought) in my RH box... I used to use RH7.3 and loved it's environment so here goes:

This sounds like a local network deal... So what's big about security? Also, Apache is a HTTP server, so unless you plan on serving up websites (and really you'll need BIND for that as well)...

Samba is the file server (well SMB), and all you need then.

DHCP is what to use for using a shared line... and IP masquerading (so some security here is good).

Personally I have DHCP running a route between VMWare, network and my machine. Apache2 server, Samba, and am starting to play with BIND.

I too am a bit of a n00b, so hey... (I've used/set up linux off-and-on since '99, but only performed a dedicated switch 2 months ago)

[operafan]

Thanks for the reply. Just went to the local software shop & realised that 7.3 Pro Ed has 5 installation CD's.
So I opted for 9.0 instead, mainly my setup is for a LAN. So I hope 9.0 can do the job. Will have to play around.. thanks.

[RainMaker]

As far as yor file Sharing and Printer Sharing as well. Samba has full capability to that. Samba is really easy as well/as much as it is really cool. Samba actually crushes Windows Advanced Server 2003 is some of the Benchmarks that they did. Samba is very robust and easily manageable. You can do deny ip's allow Hostnames / logon scripts etc etc. with Samba you have the option to have it pre-installed. I always presintall it, because then If I need it, it's there. When I had my Server I set it up with Samba all the time because with a file server You can put XFS with Samba and it's like way better than a NTFS machine, for obvious reasons. Anyways Samba basically works as a DAEMON. you start and restart DAEMONS to make it work. The server is configured by the smb.conf file. Which is basically a config file for the server which contains your printer settings and stuff like that. Goto O'Riely's site and you can find EXCELLENT documentation there. Sorry I don't have the exact URL. Happy trails. -Rainmaker

[operafan]

Red Hat interface sure rocks 10 points for that and on the Red Hat 9 it sure is much easier that the previous 6.2 which I played around years ago. Very nice, very nice indeed, everything is installed, even apache when I chose the server enviroment.