Are Linux routers reliable?

[wjal]

I am considering building a Linux router. In particular, the one that interests me most is the Freesco. Is this a viable alternative?

 

[Soybomb]

Alternative to what? But yes quite.

 

[Need4Speed]

freesco is good, but you may want to check out LEAF Bering which can incorporate shorewall (iptables/netfilter) SPI firewall for more security. Are you looking for floppy distros specifically?

 

[wjal]

I have a few old Pentium 54s around here that I was thinking of converting to Freesco routers as an "alternative" to a domestic dialup router like the Netgear RM356.
I am not necessarily stuck on a floppy distro. Not having any experience with Linux, I would be looking for something relatively simple. I will check out LEAF bering.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[Nothinman]

I run Debian on an Ultra1 as my firewall, I don't like those SOHO routers because they're not flexible enough for me, although a lot of the LinkSys ones run Linux so you could probably get a shell and do whatever you wanted with them too.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
I run Debian on an Ultra1 as my firewall, I don't like those SOHO routers because they're not flexible enough for me, although a lot of the LinkSys ones run Linux so you could probably get a shell and do whatever you wanted with them too.

ditto....debian with shorewall here for the same reasons. my netgear just didnt cut it anymore and the linksys i tried afterwards was flaky to say the least.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I've used Redhat with Ipchains, and IPtables in the past, currently using mandrake with iptables ... never had a problem. All my PCs can cruise the web at the same time ...

 

[skyking]

I have a freeBSD box with IPFW, very reliable. Speed tests through the firewall/router and directly connected to the modem are identical, so no losses there.

 

[gaidin123]

I've used redhat, Gentoo, and now a mini-debian on compact flash called Pebble Linux as my home router. They've all worked flawlessly once I figured out a good kernel config and made sure to use the vanilla kernel sources. I wouldn't recommend Pebble as a beginner distro. I'd say go for Redhat or pretty much any easy to install Linux distro out there.

For being a NAT box they are all pretty much the same providing you use the same kernel/iptables versions.

Gaidin

 

[cleverhandle]

What Skyking said, but with OpenBSD/PF. No speed difference, provides much more flexible rule sets, holds the DSL connection via PPPoE better than the ISP-provided router did, and sends me a daily email of the PF log. Linux should be functionally the same, though I much prefer PF's syntax to iptables.

 

[groovin]

openBSD with PF rocks!! you have a easy and powerful firewall and a secure (well, relatively) OS.

 

[cmetz]

OpenBSD + pf = good. It is not for the point-n-click crowd, but if you don't mind doing some learning it's definitely worth the trouble.