Update 1

I have decided against setting up a DHCP server. Reasons being not very many nodes will be in the network, and with the addition of mail/FTP servers for complexity it would be better if they had static addresses.

To add a little more complexity to the network, I will use Ubuntu for the router, CentOS for the mail server, and openSUSE for the FTP server. In addition, there will be two Mint workstations.

Tentative Gantt Chart

Project Itself

9/28 - 10/2 -- Gather articles and do research on setting up proposed servers/network

10/5 - 10/9 -- Set up mail server, FTP server, and workstations

10/12 - 10/16 -- set up firewall/DHCP/router server

10/19 - 10/23 -- get virtual network up and running, troubleshoot any issues

10/26 - 10/30 -- research hacking techniques and using Kali Linux for penetration testing

November -- penetration testing; router tweaking; documenting finds

12/1 - 12/8 -- Prepare PowerPoint Presentation on findings

Project Decision

Project chosen: turn an Ubuntu Linux server into a router/firewall/DHCP server and build a virtual network behind that. The network will include an FTP and mail server to make it a bit more complex. Then a separate physical Kali Linux machine will be used to do penetration testing to test the effectiveness of using a Linux server as a firewall/router.