DGL 4300 vs. making my own router

[zylander]

My current router is an old linksys wireless w/ 4 port switch which is starting to have issues. Cuts out every now and then and needs to be reset so its time to be replaced. I was going to get the D-Link DGL 4300, but then thought about making my own router. Im running a BSD server in the basement and my friend suggested that I also use it as a router. I could move the modem downstairs and then all I would have upstairs is a switch. My friend has a lot of knowledge with BSD and setting something like this up, so any help I would need I could get from him. It seems like a good idea and will save me some money, because the gigabit switch I want is more than half the price of the D-Link router. What do you guys think? What are the advantages/disadvangates of making a router vs. just buying a regular one.

btw, server is a quad Xeon 500MHz with 2.5gb of ram.

 

[InlineFive]

The major advantage is that if you have lots of concurrent users and/or P2P apps using the internet that the BSD box will be able to handle more connections comfortably.

Downside is that you have to provide support yourself. But if you're good with computers and a quick learn this shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Since it's much cheaper to use BSD I'd try that route first.

 

[zylander]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
Downside is that you have to provide support yourself.

Already do that now anyways

Thanks, maybe Ill try it out, doesnt seem like there is any reason not to.

 

[yuppiejr]

I like the homebuilt option though I think a good off the shelf router like the DGL-4300 is more than 99% of users need. The small form factor and low power usage are advantages, and as routers go the 4300 is pretty much the best choice out there under $100.

The server is going to be loud and probably soak up serious electricity versus doing the build on a PC, have you given any thought to using a free router distro like IPCop that will be easier for a newer Linux user to install and maintain than BSD?

 

[nweaver]

Using raw BSD versus a prebuilt option such as IPCop, smoothwall, or Monowall (bsd based) you are looking at a steeper learning curve.

I also wouldn't route on a box running services, unless I had to. Finding and old P2/P3 that some companies are just "throwing away" is pretty easy, and putting MONOwall on that box would be easy.

 

[Muscles]

Originally posted by: yuppiejr
I like the homebuilt option though I think a good off the shelf router like the DGL-4300 is more than 99% of users need. The small form factor and low power usage are advantages, and as routers go the 4300 is pretty much the best choice out there under $100.

The server is going to be loud and probably soak up serious electricity versus doing the build on a PC, have you given any thought to using a free router distro like IPCop that will be easier for a newer Linux user to install and maintain than BSD?

I'm not sure about "serious" electricity. Maybe a few extra bucks a month is it.

 

[yuppiejr]

Originally posted by: Muscles

Originally posted by: yuppiejr
I like the homebuilt option though I think a good off the shelf router like the DGL-4300 is more than 99% of users need. The small form factor and low power usage are advantages, and as routers go the 4300 is pretty much the best choice out there under $100.

The server is going to be loud and probably soak up serious electricity versus doing the build on a PC, have you given any thought to using a free router distro like IPCop that will be easier for a newer Linux user to install and maintain than BSD?

I'm not sure about "serious" electricity. Maybe a few extra bucks a month is it.

If his quad processor Xeon server is anything like the beasts I've worked on and retired around here (Dell 6300 or 6400 series) we're talking about a serious chunk of power supplies, fans, a few 10k SCSI hard drives, quad processors, etc... An old multi processor P3/Xeon server like this built before concerns about "green" computing is an electricity pig for a box that's going to be running 24/7.

My comment is not intended to discourage him, simply pointing out the fact that a server class machine like this is going to cost a LOT more to run than an off-the-shelf router and at least a couple bucks a month more than a desktop PC. He doesn't need the extra I/O bandwidth, CPU's, drives and redundant power supplies to run a firewall box so it may be more cost effective in the long run to trade down to a desktop PC.

One other consideration, finding Linux drivers for some of the mainboard devices could also be tricky since some of these servers came with Serverwerks or other specialty chipsets and funky SCSI controllers/NICs on board.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: yuppiejr
I like the homebuilt option though I think a good off the shelf router like the DGL-4300 is more than 99% of users need. The small form factor and low power usage are advantages, and as routers go the 4300 is pretty much the best choice out there under $100.

The server is going to be loud and probably soak up serious electricity versus doing the build on a PC, have you given any thought to using a free router distro like IPCop that will be easier for a newer Linux user to install and maintain than BSD?

The DGL-4300 or DGL-4100 uses way less than 15 watts, I doubt that a home built version could ever top that. Plus the 4100/4300 is cheap and most importantly highly reliable.

Also the 4300 typicaly sells for over $100 while the 4100 sells for around $80-90.

 

[tyanni]

except he already mentioned he is running a server in his basement, so adding routing to it won't add any more to his electrical cost.

 

[p0lar]

Understand the security implications of what you're trying to do. Many of these distributions (DLINK's iptables ruleset not withstanding) manage this for you. You are opting to manage it yourself. While it is not terribly difficult to attain a level of sufficient security for a home connection, are you comfortable with the risks you take in such a venture?

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: tyanni
except he already mentioned he is running a server in his basement, so adding routing to it won't add any more to his electrical cost.

Ok, I was under the impression that he was setting up a dedicated machine to run smoothwall or something similar. But if an existing machine with other tasks will do the job then I cannot see much harm being done given the information at hand.

 

[openwheelformula1]

side note, Fry's has the DGL-4300 on sale right now barely over $80.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
side note, Fry's has the DGL-4300 on sale right now barely over $80.

Wow, that's a fantastic price for a fantastic router! I wonder how much the DGL-4100 is?

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: openwheelformula1
side note, Fry's has the DGL-4300 on sale right now barely over $80.

Wow, that's a fantastic price for a fantastic router! I wonder how much the DGL-4100 is?

The DGL-4100 is $119 while the DGL-4300 is $79!