[TriLUG] need someone for a simple project

[Jon Carnes]

I would be willing to devote some hours to this project if it is
acceptable to do it remotely (I live in Apex). To do it remotely, I
would update your SSHD on the server then setup your Linksys router to
forward all SSH connections to the server.

I would provide you with a log displaying all my commands (a dump of the
Bash History), and augment it with comments to explain what is going in
each section.

If that is acceptable, then read on. 

On Mon, 2002-12-02 at 08:12, Eddie Gilchrist wrote:
> I own a small insurance brokerage here in the triangle (Durham), and am
> looking for someone to set up a samba server for me.   8 xp machines in
> the office, all looking to be served by a  sendmail server.  

Samba is easy, especially if you are running a workgroup and only want a
backup share (or a few common shares).  Lets say 3 hours.

Sendmail is harder and will only work properly if you have DNS setup
properly for your domain.  If you simply want to drop off mail, that is
no problem.  If you want to have all your mail for rtpinsurance.com
end-up on that server then you might consider using fetchmail instead.

  http://www.tuxedo.org/~esr/fetchmail/

Fetchmail lets you download folks mail from their normal POP accounts
(wherever they may be) and then loads them into the servers normal spool
so that local users can then POP for their mail off the local server.

Using fetchmail, you do not need a static external IP address.
Setting up fetchmail would take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours.

> 
> Here are the particulars.  
> 
> Machine already has redhat 7.3 installed on an amd 950 machine with a 30
> gig drive and more memory than is reasonable. Not interested in bsd,
> mandrake, or whatever your distro of choice is.  Stick with redhat.
> 
> Server box will be behind a standard linksys router, so there will be a
> (second) nat overlay.  I want the software firewall in place, as well. 
> None of the machines (except one) need to have ANY incoming traffic for
> ssh, ftp, Just want them to get mail and be able to browse the web for
> those all important porn sites! Seriously, we have web interface for
> most of our carriers and the agents do most of their policy servicing
> over the web. ( We DO need a log of addresses, since I fired a secretary
> for inappropriate use of web 2 months ago)

Not clear here, but it sounds like you want this server to be a firewall
for all your interior folks, so they would use this as their gateway
rather than the Linksys router... interesting setup.  If that is the
case, then shouldn't the server take the place of the Linksys router?

In any case, the secondary firewall setup is *very* easy, as the Linksys
does most of the work - 1 hour

Setting up logging and rotation of the logs - 1 hour

If you want DHCP for the internal folks - 2 hours

> 
> I have dhcp, so dyndys is probably in the picture, as getting a static
> ip would necessitate walking away from my dsl provider, whom I really
> like!
> 
> 8 xp machines who need a share only for backup on the server.
> 
> I own the domain (rtpinsurance.com) and earthlink hosts the website.  I
> am not interested in moving the website hosting, just the mail. 
> Earthlink is ok with this. I can make the calls and get the permissions,
> you have to figure out actually how to split the hosting.
> 
> VPN, so that I can tunnel in thru internet from home.  I would actually
> like to have/keep a marriage and family, and work is constant, it
> seems.  Thus, work from home.

VPN is simple or hard depending on what level you want to go with. If
you are happy with simply SSH into the server and then using VNC, then
we are simply talking about VNC setup on the server (assuming that X is
already loaded and working). That would take 1 hour.

You will also want to use Dynamic DNS for your internet connection. Your
Linksys router comes with this capability built into it (if you go with
a major vendor).

If you want routed access to the whole subnet, then we are talking about
a lot of hours and it would be cheaper for you to get two Linksys
routers that have IPSec tunneling built into them (total cost would be
less than $300 for each).

> 
> I am looking for someone who will 
> 
> 1) outline this on paper for me
> 2) work WITH me in setting it up. I realize this will increase my cost,
> and may be the most frustrating and time consuming part of your job.  I
> am an idiot and know nothing re linux, and am *#&%^ tired of asking for
> help and having to wade thru the tirade of insults and helpful comments
> like "check the man pages."  I want YOU to make it work, and explain to
> me what you did and how it works.--For the record, I have always been a
> relatively quick study with a respectable academic background
> (chemistry) and am "self taught" in at least three disciplines which
> have required some technical expertise.  You are not looking at loads of
> time, but probably a couple of hours answering questions. I am just
> staggering under the time demands of a growing business and at age 47,
> no longer have the fortitude or inclination to stay up all night reading
> and researching this stuff for trial and error.
> 3)set a price for FUTURE consultation on a time per hour basis if I run
> into problems.  Note that this is for FUTURE consultation.  I am looking
> for present responses on a PACKAGE CONTRACT basis, not a dollar per hour
> basis.
> 
> I have gotten enough of a feel for this to realize the scope of the
> project, so if there is anyone out there who wants to tackle a little
> one like this, please email me at eddie at rtpinsurance.com.  Also, if you
> don't care to mess with it yourself, but know an engineering student at
> NCSU or someone who thinks making a few hundred bucks on a project like
> this is worth his/her time, please let me know.
> 
> I plan to let this bid by December 10.
> 
> Thank you for your time.
> 
> Eddie Gilchrist
> 

I bill at $40/hour for remote work. I know you are not looking for
hourly rates, but if you are interested let me know, and we can work
something out.

10 to 16 hours at $40/hour = $400 to $540 

Jon Carnes
919.779.4865