More on DHCP

One of our readers, Tim Rowe, a network specialist at Bell Technologies, finds fault with my suggestion in the Feb. 1 column to use freeware Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and firewall software for connecting a student NetWare lab to the Internet. He says:

"NetWare 4.11 provides proxy [IPX/IP Gateway] and DHCP. Why would you go through all of those downloads of freebie unsupported software? I know your solution would work, but it's by far not the best solution."

And he's right. Novell provides excellent tools that will do exactly what was asked. (And I provided that information to the net administrator in my unedited response. That information was cut to fit this space.)

But I do like the freeware/ shareware approach for the scenario discussed because it allows connectivity to the Internet with one IP address. It's a good, low-budget answer that gives students easy access to copies of the connectivity tools. They simply need to go to www. microsoft.com/ntserver/nts/ exec/vendors/freeshare/). And, most importantly, it doesn't jeopardize existing Novell services by calling for any server work during installation or any server bandwidth during service.

Still, Rowe's point about IPX/IP Gateway features in NetWare 4.11 is well-taken. I appreciate the feedback.

As a network architect at Change at Work in Houston, Blass understands the strain of developing and managing intranets. Send your problems to dr.internet@changeatwork.com

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