Firewalls Routers

[Q-Gdoxl]

Hi guys i was wondering if I could get some help here as I don't know all that much about the subject. Other than I know I want to set up a firewall and with another computer comming soon I will want/need a broadband router.

I have 2 BB routers in mind both come in 1 port and 4 port, and run about can$200.
the SMC Barricade (which also has a built in print server) http://www.smc.com/smc/pages_html/products.html
and the the Linksys BEFSR http://www.linksys.com/products/group.asp?grid=5

First thing I was wondering is why buy a 4 port for $200+ when you can get a 1 port for $140 and a cheap hub? would this not do the same thing? or would that hub have to be a switch to compare to the 4 port?

Now question 2 could I get a cheap 486 linux box and run a firewall program, print server, ect. and get a hub and so the same thing as the router,firewall?

Part 3 is there any advantage over either system?

I guess other than the fact I'd have to learn how to set up and maintain the linux box running this (I know that should eb eunf reason but if it is safer/better to run the router I would)


thanks again guys!
LNO ROCKS

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by Q-Gdoxl:
First thing I was wondering is why buy a 4 port for $200+ when you can get a 1 port for $140 and a cheap hub? would this not do the same thing? or would that hub have to be a switch to compare to the 4 port?

some of those do have a 'switch' vice a 'hub' so would be a better deal/faster, although in most home LAN's you will never know the difference

Originally posted by Q-Gdoxl:
Now question 2 could I get a cheap 486 linux box and run a firewall program, print server, ect. and get a hub and so the same thing as the router,firewall?

yes, i use Coyote Linux (http://www.coyotelinux.com) on an amd486/100, 16mb, no hd for this with my dsl. coyote doesn't have a print server, but Freesco (http://www.freesco.org) does

Originally posted by Q-Gdoxl:

Part 3 is there any advantage over either system?

other than the learning part (although with these floppy distros, there isn't much learning to do, they are pretty easy), i guess cost is a big deal for some. i almost gave up on my 486 and bought a dlink router thingy because it kept crashing (bad hardware). once i figured out which stick of RAM was messing it up, it has been very stable, so now i am :) that i didn't spend the $$

so if you get a flaky 486, then it won't be as reliable as one store bought box

[compunuts]

Originally posted by Q-Gdoxl:
I have 2 BB routers in mind both come in 1 port and 4 port, and run about can$200.
the SMC Barricade (which also has a built in print server)
and the the Linksys BEFSR

First thing I was wondering is why buy a 4 port for $200+ when you can get a 1 port for $140 and a cheap hub?
The thing is that if you buy a one port hub, you can only connect 1 puter with it and it will only have routing features.
4 port ones comes with NAT (network address transilation) and DHCP capability so that you don't have to tinker with setting it up. That's what you are paying extra for.



hub have to be a switch to compare to the 4 port?
No. It doesn't *have* to be a switch but it's good to have it. Low traffic networks like *most* home networks, you won't even noticed the difference unless you are transfering mega/giga bits of data. I tried that with about 1.2 GB of MP3 over the network at one short and I saw the difference. :). But daily normal use, it was pretty much the same there. The highest DSL speed is 1.5 MBit and you network is 10 Mbit so I dont' see the bottle neck aside from Security advantages in switches.

Now question 2 could I get a cheap 486 linux box and run a firewall program, print server, ect. and get a hub and so the same thing as the router,firewall?
Yes it's. But most people especially Winders have to pay for routing and NAT software (I know Win2K has built in), it makes sense for them to pay the thing and plug it in and you are ready to go. Since most Linux users likes to do it themself, it's good idea to get 486 and run as Firewall/router/NAT and printsever all in one. 486 can do the job pretty well. This site (http://www.svlug.org) runs off 486 until very recently.


Part 3 is there any advantage over either system?
When you buy the boxes you mentioned, all they provide is hardware, routing and NAT. That's all. If you run Linux system, you set up one and you are off to go and dont' even need to look at again. If you run floppy version like FreeSCO, all you need to do is switch the new floppy and reboot the system. If you buy the box, you can't upgrade hardware nor software.


I'd have to learn how to set up and maintain the linux box running this
It actually is not that hard to do if you just want the comparable capability of those offer. It's as easy as enabling IP forwarding and setting up NAT. Don't fool by their claim with Firewall capability. In the world, no firewall can set once and forgot all even Cisco's and Sun's.

[ 05 February 2001: Message edited by: compunuts ]

[Q-Gdoxl]

Thanks Compunuts that was informative I was wonder if you know of any documentation sites (or here) that have articles about setting up that kinda of system (software based, not hw based)?

Thanks
I am hooked on LNO!