Set up a DHCP server to manage IP addresses
An anonymous reader writes "The second in a three-part series on how to leverage Linux to get the most from your network, this tutorial shows how to set up a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server with Internet Systems Consortium (ISC) DHCP. Sample code and configuration files are provided throughout to aid understanding."
Actually, DHCP is especially useful on a small network, as you can setup the DHCP server to assign addresses to specific MAC addresses instead of manually configuring the details in the OS.
This is handy if you continually resinstall operating systems on a box, and have gotten used to accessing it via a specific IP address, or whatever.
Besides, by using DHCP, you can add new hosts without doing a thing. This means your friends can come over and plug their shit in without problems, and your network will be filled with with trojans in no time.