dedicated pc vs hardware router

[kohutek]

just a quick question for all you network wizards ... which is faster for acting as a router/nat provider, a dedicated pc [win98se/2k] or a straight-up router from say cisco?

I'm guessing that it's the router, hands down, but do routers provide the ease of use and functionality of a PC configured to serve as a router?

I'm planning on getting DSL soon and have an extra celery 300 w/ 128mb of ram sitting here, and would like to put it up as the router instead of purchasing one [no truckloads of cash here]. My primary use is for gaming [low ping == good] and a simple webserving [off a separate computer via some nat luvin].

Any ideas?
thanks,
kohutek

 

[ctowle]

You should be completely satisfied running that box as a router. Use either Win2000 Server or some flavor of Linux to do the routing. The only thing is that you will need 2 NIC's in that box.

One for the DSL modem in and one for the hub or other computers (out).

Unless your DSL modem is USB and then you will not need a second NIC.

 

[5dollahoe]

a hardware router hands down beats a PC platform for routing. but you only notice the difference when youre running hudreds of connections through it. i doubt you have a 100 seat network behind your router. so either one is fine for you.

my home network has a linux machine (cel566, 192 pc100 ram) running IPCHAINS for ip masquerading. this is overkill and i run around 1% load on my cpu. however, the most ive had on it was about 14 at a lan party of mine.

either a hardware router or pc-based will be fine for a small home to medium sized office network.

i would recomend linux with 2 NICs and any distro of linux. theres a good little program for linux called Gnome Firewall Control Center that lets you easily modify ipchain rules. id recomend that.

linux is easy and fairly fun to learn for the first time.

 

[jhu]

for a router, you don't even need a harddrive so unhook it and load up freesco or linuxrouter.

 

[Argo]

On top of everything that was said here, dedicated router would usually have lower latency.

 

[cavingjan]

The hardware router should consume less power and is a lot smaller. I've used Gnat Box Lite and a 3com LAN modem and I'm happier with the 3com than the pc. Easier to put somewhere.

 

[BCYL]

Woo... the PC you have is really an overkill... go to some 2nd hand computer store and purchase some 486 with 16mb ram for like $20, and run freesco (mentioned by jhu above) or Coyote Linux on it... Leave your celery for something else...