9 Build a Simple Local Area Network with DHCP running on Tiny Core Linux

A Local Area Network (LAN) has many definitions depending on who you speak to.  They can be defined by geography, function, or electrical connections.  In this book, we typically use the term “LAN” to specify a few end devices connected to the same switch.  This is a gross oversimplification of LANs, but simplification is helpful when exploring larger concepts.  Consider how we use logs to represent exponential equations or ask veterans in the audience to stand for recognition. Both actions are simplifications of greater meaning.

In this lab, we show you how to make a fundamental LAN with DHCP that won’t stress your host machine’s resources.

Learning Concepts

• Create a functional LAN with:
  • 1 switch
  • 2 PCs
  • 1 DHCP server

Prerequisites

• Chapter 2 – Setup a GNS3 environment
• Chapter 5 – Install Tiny Core Linux
• Chapter 6 – Adding a VM to GNS3

Deliverables

• None – this is a preparatory lab for other labs

resources

• GNS3 Documentation – https://docs.gns3.com/

Contributors and Testers

• TBD

Phase I – Inital Setup

Initial setup involves creating a workspace, segmenting it, and then labeling its components.

By the end of this chapter, your network should look like the following:

1. Ensure you have completed the prerequisites before starting the lab
2. Open Oracle VirtualBox Manager
3. Make a full clone of the TinyCoreLinux VM
   1. Right-click on the machine and select Clone
      

      

   2. Rename it to “TC-red” and select the option to generate new MAC addresses, then click Next
      

      

       

   3. Select Full Clone, then click Finish
      
4. Right-click on the TC-red VM and click on settings
   

   

5. Navigate to “Network” and change the network adapter 1 settings to Generic Driver and UDPTunnel, then click OK
   

   

6. Start GNS3 and start a new blank project.  Name it anything you like, but for this example, we are calling it Simple LAN
7. Add the TC-red VM to the GNS3 appliances – Change its symbol to a Red Server
8. In the GNS3 toolbar ribbon, click on the Draw a Rectangle tool and click the workspace to place a rectangle
   

   

9. You can use the mouse to resize the rectangle at any time
10. Change the properties of the rectangle by right-clicking on the edge and selecting Style
    

    

    1. Some people use a fill color, and some don’t
       

       

    2. Change the border color to a primary color (we are using red)
    3. Change the Border width to 6 px
    4. Click apply, then click ok
11. GNS3 uses layers for its graphics. Generally, the shapes are at a higher layer than the connectors. This means that anything you put into the box risks not being seen. So you can change the box’s layer now or at any time by right-clicking on the shape and selecting Lower one layer
    

    

12. Place the following inside the red rectangle
    1. Ethernet Switch
    2. Two (2) VPCS
    3. TC-red VM
13. Connect the devices to the switch
14. Use the note tool – next to the shape tool – to add a new note of “Red Network 192.168.1.0/24”
15. Use the note tool to add a new note of “.250” next to the TC-Red VM
    

    

16. Start all devices

1. Navigate to the TC-Red VM and open a terminal
   

   

2. Configure the ethernet interface with a static IP address
   1. Open a new configuration file by typing

      > sudo vi /opt/eth0.sh

   2. You will see a lot of tildes (~) which means a blank document
   3. Press i to activate insert, and type the following in the file

      # fast storage device may need a delay on boot for the settings to take
      # adjust the following sleep statement if needed
      sleep .2

      #kill the dhcp client for eth0
      sleep 1
      if [ -f /var/run/udhcpc.eth0.pid ]; then rm /var/run/udhcpc.eth0.pid;
      sleep 0.1
      fi

      #configure the interface eth0
      ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.250 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.1.255 up

      #start the DHCP server process once the interface is ready with the IP add
      sleep .1
      sudo udhcpd /etc/udhcpd.conf &

      

   4. Press esc to exit the edit mode
   5. Press the full colon : followed by wq  (this means write out – old school ‘save file’ – and quit)

      :wq

   6. Now type in the command line

      > sudo chmod 777 /opt/eth0.sh

   7. Followed by

      > sudo /opt/eth0.sh

   8. You can check if interface eth0 is configured by typing

      > ifconfig

      

3. Create a DHCP configuration file
   1. Type

      > sudo vi /etc/udhcpd.conf

   2. In this new file, press i to insert and type the following

      start 192.168.1.100
      end 192.168.1.200
      interface eth0
      option subnet 255.255.255.0
      option router 192.168.1.250
      option lease 43200
      option dns 192.168.1.250
      option domain local

      NOTE: These settings mean the following

      Statement	Setting	Meaning
      Start	192.168.1.100	This is the first possible IP address that can be given out to end devices asking for an IP address
      Stop	192.168.1.200	This is the last possible IP address that can be given out to end devices asking for an IP address
      interface	eth0	This is the network interface that will be looking for DHCP requests
      option subnet	255.255.255.0	The IPv4 subnet mask used for this network (192.168.1.0)
      option router	192.168.1.250	This is the IP address of the gateway router to leave the local LAN
      option lease	43200	The amount of seconds between lease refresh – this is 12 hours
      option dns	192.168.1.250	DNS should use this gateway router
      option domain	local	DNS requests will resolve locally first before using the gateway

       

      

   3. When finished typing, press escape, followed by

      :wq

   4. Then start the DHCP Daemon by typing

      sudo udhcpd /etc/udhcpd.conf

   5. Verify if the DHCP process is running by typing the following

      sudo netstat -anp

   6. You should see a listening line like this:   udp  0  0  0.0.0.0:67    0.0.0.0:*   1413/udhcpd
      

      

4. Remember, Tiny Core Linux has limited persistence, so we have to add our DHCP configuration file to the list
   1. Gain change permissions to the bootlocal file by typing

      sudo chown root:staff /opt/bootlocal.sh
      sudo chmod 775 /opt/bootlocal.sh

   2. Now add the persistence by typing the following

      sudo echo ‘etc/udhcpd.conf’ >> /opt/.filetool.lst
      sudo echo ‘opt/eth0.sh’ >> /opt/.filetool.lst
      sudo echo ‘opt/eth0.sh &’ >> /opt/bootlocal.sh
      filetool.sh -b

   3. You should get a confirmation like in
      

      

   4. Now reboot TC-red to verify the settings were retained by typing the following at the command line
      1. 1. 1. 1. Static IP is configured

                  ifconfig

                   

                  

               2. DHCP server is running

                  sudo netstat -anp

                   

                  

1. Navigate to the GNS3 workspace
2. Right-click on a VPCS console and type

   ip dhcp

3. You should get a response of an IP address between 192.168.1.100 – 192.168.1.200
   

   

4. Note the IP address and use the GNS3 note tool to add the IP address to the Workspace
   

   

End of Lab