Essential System Administration, 3rd Edition

Adding a New Network Host

To add a new host to thenetwork, you must:

• Install networking software and build a kernel capable of supporting networking and the installed networking hardware (if necessary). These days, basic networking is almost always installed by default with the operating system, but you may have to add some features manually.

• Physically connect the system to the network and enable the hardware network interface. Occasionally, on older PC systems, the latter may involve setting jumpers or switches on the network adapter board or setting low-level system parameters (usually via the pre-boot monitor program).

• Assign a hostname and network address to the system (or find out what has been assigned by the network administrator). When you add a new host to an existing network, the unique network address you assign it must fit in with whatever addressing scheme is already in use at your site. You can also decide to use DHCP to assign the IP address and other networking parameters dynamically instead of specifying a static address.

• Ensure that necessary configuration tasks occur at boot time, including starting all required networking-related daemons.

• Configure name resolution (hostname-to-IP address translation).

• Set up any static routes and configure any other routing facilities in use. This includes defining a default gateway for packets destined beyond the local subnet.

• Test the network connection.

• Enable and configure any additional network services that you plan to use on ...