Creating a virtual router

[JCulleny]

Hello. I was reading up about virtual routers and i just had a general question about them. Im running a windows 7 desktop that has ethernet capability. I also have a netgear usb stick that i used before i had ethernet. Is it possible to create a virtual router but using the data coming from the ethernet because it its 10 times as fast as using wireless? So essentially use my ethernet port for the incoming data and the wireless usb stick for the out going virtual router? Thanks for any advice .

 

[Red Squirrel]

Personally I prefer to not virtualize the router/firewall, but that's just me. I have a separate 1U box running pfsense. It can be done though.

This will have zero effect on wireless speed. You still need a physical way of recieving/transmitting waves so you'll need an AP of sorts. I personally recommend Unifi. Setup the wireless on a separate vlan so you can only open up the stuff you need at the firewall.

The issue I have with virtualizing a router though is should there be any weird exploit in the vm/hypervisor software, it could potentially expose your home network to the outside if something weird can be done where traffic can jump between virtual nics or something weird like that. At least in theory. I'm not aware of any such exploit. I just don't like the idea of plugging my VM server physically into the internet even though proper vlan setup will prevent anything bad from happening. Guess it's more of a "feeling" thing, of seeing a physical device between the internet and the rest of my network.

 

[JCulleny]

Actually nevermind! i figured it out!

 

[VirtualLarry]

There is software called "VirtualRouter" ( virtualrouter.codeplex.com ), but it sucks.

I tried it a few nights ago, with my hardwired HTPC, and a PremierTek Hermes (1W 9dbi ants, N300 USB NIC).

My laptop could connected, by my two desktops could not.

One desktop, running a monoprice Realtek-chipset USB N300 adapter, would initially connect, the realtek util would show a good signal, it would disconnect, reconnect, and then the adapter would go dead. ("No connections available.")

Had to open Troubleshooter to get it to even pick up wifi networks again.

The other desktop, with an AR9485 PCI-E N150 card, would associate, but couldn't pull an IP address for some reason.