Need Intermediate Installation Option in DVD

[blacklotus]

I have the unfortunate problem of being stuck in the middle with my installation options. I'm a complete Linux n00b (at least on command line), yet I extensively use Linux and FreeBSD appliances for personal and business use (FreeNAS, Astaro, pfSense, m0n0wall, IPCop, Smoothwall, endian, etc) as well as the usual commercial router/firewalls.

So I have extensive knowledge of networking but only really work with easy to install Linux appliances. Yet I know how I want them set up (especially with regards to networking).

For example, at my home I use pfSense as a firewall with a VPN tunnel to my work. It has a quad nic in it and I have 4 discrete security zones, WAN, Trusted LAN (VPN access to work), VoIP, and Untrusted LAN. I only have the trusted LAN connected to my home office computer and laptop, the rest of the house and wireless have both untrusted and VoIP access through 802.1q VLAN trunking. That way anyone else who hooks up in the home has no access to my work LAN or main office. Everything is connected together with my managed 24 port gigabit and 24 port 10/100 PoE switches. I know this is WAAAY more than the average home network setup but just filling you in with what I have now.

I would like to make my core to be multihomed with 3 gigabit interfaces mostly for efficiency sake and security. I wouldn't want it to be my router, (or handle any routing for that matter) but it can be my dhcp server. I would like 1 interface for my trusted lan, 1 for the untrusted, and a 3'rd just for hooking up HD Homerun boxes and possibly ip cameras. I tried to configure the network settings both in the LinuxMCE browser infterface (waaaay too limited) and in Kubuntu, I found that those changes caused conflicts.

It would be really nice if the easy DVD had a fully automated install as well as a prompted one that asked you what components you want as well as how you would like them with the default options preselected (but changeable, obviously).
The option of setting up the network interface(s) (maybe even support vlan trunking and link aggregation/ teaming?), and individual dhcp settings for each interface, routing (or disabling NAT, firewall), blocking routing. BTW, some firewalls like mine can be the dhcp server and point towards another boot server, although the core wouldn't be able to autodiscover new devices on the lan.

Be able to choose how you want to partition drives or raid arrays, be able to install but possibly choose to not run certain services. I don't need asterisk (at least right now), it would be nice to free up those resources. Also to set it up as a core only machine with no media interface.

It would be great to do all this using the Easy DVD for those of us that aren't that good at customizing the nuts and bolts of Linux because I don't trust myself enough to setup linux and LinuxMCE on my own properly. I'm sure there are others like me out there as well.

What do you guys think? too difficult? stupid? i'm interested to find out

[1audio]

Your setup is way beyond the casual user who is looking for a media appliance. However the DVD would benefit from some more setup options.
The place to edit the network stuff is in the devices-core page. There is a line with the settings for the ethernet settings. Not for the uninitiated. I don't think it has been tested or used with more than 2 ports. And telling LMCE what to do with those ports will be an adventure. Let us know what you manage to do. I have a 4 port card I'd like to get use out of. When I tried it only two of the 4 ports were active.