Learning Linux

And another thing is the office doesn't have a proxy computer yet so we pretty much open every workstation to go to any sites they want and that cause trouble because like i said we only have 1 broadband internet connection so all the bandwith is gone to the video streaming sites and online games websites.

So the big question is how am I going to limit their activities in the online games and video streaming sites if I didn't install squid or any other proxy yet ??!

Anyway I google my way through the internet and I found a way to block youtube and online games websites without using proxy or squid.

Here's what I do with Linux Workstation :
1. Open terminal or console as root
2. Type : vim /etc/hosts
3. Insert this line :
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
4. Save the file
5. Restart the network

Okay the explanation is if the user wants to go to youtube.com then instead of going to the original youtube the workstation would go to address 127.0.0.1

Remember this is only works if you setup in the workstation so if you have 30 workstation then you have to repeat the steps 30 times. I know it's plenty of steps but hey if you think you could balance the bandwith flow then it's worth the efforts.

Here's what I do with Windows Workstation :
1. Login as local administrator
2. Open command prompt
3. Go to directory :
c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\ --> For Win 2000
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\ --> For Win XP or Win Vista
4. Open file hosts
5. Insert this line :
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
6. Save the file
7. Restart the computer

Well that's how I block certain unwanted website without using proxy or in this case squid.

We could always change the repository in the /etc/apt/sources.list to the nearest repository to our location so we could get more fast reply as well.

In Indonesia, there are several repository to choose but my favourite is www.kambing.ui.edu

They also have repository for other linux system such as fedora, mandriva, debian, etc.

To add the repository to your system :

1. Open /etc/apt/sources.list in the console/terminal
2. Add this line at the bottom of the list :

For Ubuntu 7.10 :

deb http://kambing.ui.edu/ubuntu gutsy main restricted multiverse universe
deb http://kambing.ui.edu/ubuntu gutsy-updates main restricted multiverse universe


For Ubuntu 7.04 :

deb http://kambing.ui.edu/ubuntu feisty main restricted multiverse universe
deb http://kambing.ui.edu/ubuntu feisty-updates main restricted multiverse universe

3. Save the file
4. Still in the console or terminal, run : apt-get update

Now you can install and update all your system files in ubuntu.

But now we're not talking about how to setup a bridge networking. You can see the bridge networking setting in my previous post.

The thing is if you use the bridge networking in my previous post then you can't use your windows user name and password in linux client because if you do then can't possibly open the virtualbox where the windows guest reside.

But recently I find a trick so the user from server linux can use virtualbox as well.

The only user that exist both in local and server is root so basicly the trick is you run Virtualbox as root.

1. Open /etc/network/interfaces and change "tunctl_user user" into "tunctl_user root" ( see previous log )
2. Open /etc/sudoers and add the line "%vboxusers ALL=NOPASSWD: ALL"
3. Edit menu Application->System Tools->VirtualBox and change the command in properties section from "VirtualBox" into "sudo VirtualBox"
4. Reboot computer.

If step 3 is not working you could always create a script called "VirtualBox.sh" contains command "sudo VirtualBox"

All this steps is working well for me and hopefully will work fine for you as well.

Thanks.

PS :
I'm using Server : Fedora 8 with FDS and Client Ubuntu 7.10

4. Edit file /etc/network/interfaces :
(adjust accordingly )

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto tap0
iface tap0 inet manual
tunctl_user user --> user login name
uml_proxy_arp 10.32.15.220 --> change according to your own ip address
uml_proxy_ether eth0 --> if your network card is eth1 then change accordingly

auto br0
iface br0 inet static
address 10.32.15.220
netmask 255.0.0.0
gateway 10.32.15.3
bridge_ports eth0 tap0
bridge_maxwait 0

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet manual

5. Start networking :
$/etc/init.d/networking start

*** Updated 29/10/2008
I've tried this trick above with VirtualBox 2.0.4 and it work like a charm :D

You only have to add this line below to work :

VBoxAddIF vbox0 [username] br0

Well let me know if it's working for you.

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