Gateway to the Internet

To test the setup to see that it works, you can use a crossover cable to connect your configuration machine directly to the Ethernet card with the static IP. The DHCP server should assign an IP address to your client machine. Then you can use your browser to access the eBox dashboard, although you can't reach the Internet.

To access the Internet, you need to set up the second network adapter with your public IP address; your provider might assign this to you dynamically, or you might have a static address. In Network | Gateways, you need to enter your Internet provider's IP address, as well as the address of the second network card as the Interface.

Now that your machine is part of the wild and woolly web, click on Firewall to set it up, then enable the module. Next, create a new rule that supports all outgoing data traffic and enable the firewall service in the Module Status section. To connect all the machines on your local network to your eBox, you need to use a hub without a separate DHCP server. If everything goes well, the computers should be able to use eBox as their gateway to the Internet.

Conclusions

This short proof of concept simply scratches the surface of eBox's capabilities. The word is that the forum [3] will soon have part two of the HOWTO with more useful steps, and you can always refer to the eBox User's Guide [1] until that happens. The guide explains the many eBox functions, although in parts it is skimpy on detail. If worst comes to worst, you should be able to find answers to your questions on the forum [4] and from the mailing list [5].