I wanted to set up a home server for sharing data across a little home network for the several devices in our home (data like files, media, small stuff like that).
I installed Ubuntu server on the laptop. It's strictly command line interface, and when trying to update and configure the server I realized it does not have any internet connection. It did during the initial install, but when I ping google, it says "host unknown" or something like that.
So I Googled and started reading guides about configuring the network, and I realize, I don't even known what it actually means to configure a network. Does this mean get a device hooked up to the internet? What does that actually imply?
https://www.swiftstack.com/docs/install/configure_networking.html is the page I was following. The following is a list of instructions is says to follow:
Open your /etc/network/interfaces file, locate the: "iface eth0..." line and change dynamic to static address line and change the address to the static IP address netmask line and change the address to the correct subnet mask gateway line and change the address to the correct gateway address dns-nameservers line and change (or add) the nameserver information If you aren't certain which IP address, subnet mask, gateway or dns-nameservers you need, please consult with your network administrator for the correct information.
I don't have a network admin to consult with because this is at my home. I am comfortable following these instructions from the command line, but what is a subnet mask? What is a gateway address? Nameserver information? I'm not sure what these things are, why I am changing them, or if any of this is going to get my server connected to my home wifi.
255.255.255.0
. Your router's address (the gateway) can vary, but is usually192.168.1.1
or192.168.2.1
. Usually an ISP will leave a label on the router, or with your paperwork when you got your internet hooked up that should have the gateway address on it along with an admin username and password to access router configuration. You can also call you ISP to ask what the gateway IP is, as well as nameservers (DNS Servers). Or use 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 from OpenDNS (I recommend).