Good deal on computer for use as a Broadband Server/Router- nm

[abracadabra1]

Compgeeks has these systems at a damn good price for those of us who are planning on using our dsl/cable connections w/ multiple PCs.
Optiplex GL 575 75MHz, 16MB RAM, 540MB HDD, FDD, & More

my only question is does it have enough power to do the job? any info would be helpful.
hope these babies will work

no pci slots- they're useless

 

[sparks]

Why not just get one of those DSL/Cable routers from Linksys. $154 from buy.com with 30 off 150 makes it $124. It comes with a 10mb port for the DSL/Cable and 4 10/100 switched ports. I have one and it works great.

 

[rtg]

That's more than enough power.. Just make sure it has two available slots (PCI preferable) for the two network card's you'll need. There are many good floppy-only distros available for routing. Freesco is one. Coyote Linux also has a free version with a great setup script.
Or, if you want, install any Linux distro, leaving off the extras you don't need, like X and games.

Not a bad price for that little guy. I work there, so trust me in saying it's a decent little machine


rtg


edit: As noted, no PCI slots.. what a shame.

 

[dimwit]

Why pay $40 for something you can get for free? There was this one Santa Cruz organization that was being given obsolete PCs like these and giving them away. They would spray paint the cases flourescent yellow, and brand them "yellow box" or something like that. The only caveat was that you couldn't sell them, when you were done using them as a hardware firewall or whatever you would have to "regift" it to someone else. I apologize in advance, I cannot this early in the morning remember the name or URL. I think they put linux on them too.

 

[Unclemo]

This is better... P100IBM
Not sure about PCI slots.. Egghead and other auctions have tons of these cheap machines. But, two years ago I bought one and it was dead after 8 months.

 

[jbaj007]

There is enough old Pentiums out there to provide us all with routers 'till Kingdom comes. Good idea to recycle these for this use or the Feds. will do it for us (disposal 'tax' on new equip. etc.)

 

[Braxus]

Linksys routers are crap. So many damn problems. If you do get a hardware router, Get a SMC or Netgear. They can be purchased for about the same price. The SMC one also has a print server port and serial I/O if you decide to use a serial modem.

 

[sun818]

Hi. The Dell machine will be great as a router. I had a 486 DX4/100 run as a router serving 5 computers via DSL. It performed flawlessly. If you get FreeSCO, you can install the router software onto the HD. Make sure you get good PCI network cards.

Braxus... have you used the serial I/O of the SMC to hook up an external modem? I have a 28.8 hayes external that I want to use as a backup dial-up in case my DSL ever goes down.

Thanks,
Sun

 

[Biel]

Forget LinkSys if you're gonna go w/ DSL. I've heard nothing but "long fruitless hours" stores from those that tried to set it up.

I got the SMC Barricade (posted on bargains a few weeks back). It's built in support for PPPoE will get all your computers up and connected in just a few mins. The built in Printer sharing is a nice bonus too.

 

[sun818]

I don't think that is a fair statement. I think it has more to do with connection type than with the router brand. With DSL, you can have a static IP, PPP over Ethernet, Dynamic IP, and more for residential service.

I have personally setup Dynamic IP and static IP using the Linksys Router and have not run across any issues.

Thanks,
Sun

 

[sirsolo]

dimwit,

When you have time, could you please dig up that url to Santa Cruz operation? I've looked but can't find it.
Thanks.