[ILUG] Information on setting up a home network

[Éibhear]

Hi,

I know this is somewhat off topic, but I'm hoping someone will be able to
help me. My head is wrecked looking for a "Start here" document that will
give me the information I need.

I want to set up a home network, but I don't want to spend more money on
things that turn out not to work with the machines I have.

Here's what I have:
 + 3 laptops and one desktop, all with GNU/Linux of one flavour or
   another and each at constant risk of having that flavour changed
   with no notice.
 + An Eircom broadband connection using a Netopia Cayman 3341 modem.
   This is not a wireless modem.

Here's what I want:
 + To network the laptops and PC such that each can use the
   broadband connection and that each can talk to the other in an
   unrestricted manner.

Here's where I think ILUG can help:
 + If I get an ethernet switch (like at
   http://www.marxcomputers.ie/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=switch&cart_id=)
   and enough ethernet cables, will I be able to configure the netopia
   modem to act as the LAN router? If so, does any one know where I can
   get documentation describing how to do that? Is it configured for
   this already? If this isn't possible, I *will* be going to
   http://www.linux.ie/articles/tutorials/firewall/ next.
 + If I get homeplug devices (like what can be seen at
   http://www.devolo.co.uk/uk_EN/produkte/dLAN/mldlanhsstarterkit.html),
   I'm guessing that these can act as an alternative to an ethernet
   switch. Am I correct?

While I am a techie (honest!) and I should know this stuff pretty well, my
head, as I say, is wrecked. Is there a primer type document that will
explain to someone who isn't very experienced in these sorts of things the
fundamentals of building a home network like this? I'm looking for simple
explanations for NAT, masquerading, IP Forwarding, port forwarding.
Perhaps without reference to the operating system and certainly without
reference to specific software packages that implement these.

Thanks,

Éibhear


-- 
Éibhear Ó hAnluain
Gibiris.org
Dublin
Ireland