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Linux Firewall vs. Linksys Router

H

haze03

Member
I just picked up a 200 GB Seagate and figured I'd throw it in an old PC for a fileserver. I haven't used Linux since I messed around with it for about a month back in '97. However, it appears to be coomon practice to use it for a file server. Plus, Mandrake seems pretty simple to configure. When I was getting ready to install I noticed options for setting up firewall and various other stuff. I assume if I were to go that route I would want the firewall and server stuff on a seperate box from the file server, correct? First of all I should ask what is the point? I have two Win2k desktops sharing cable through a Linksys wireless broadband router, one wired and one wireless. What is the benefit of a seperate linux box for a firewall compared to the Linksys router? I have gone to Gibson Research and tested with Shields Up and it says I am stealth already.

A bonus question. Since I have very little knowledge of Linux and how it mounts partitons versus the standard windows C:/, D:/, etc, how should I partition the file server? Obviously I want the balk of the space for .ogg and .flac files and various other data. Usually I set up my Windows box as C:\Win2k, D:\Apps, E:\Games, and F:\Data. This way when I format I can keep all of my application data and other data while nuking everything else.

The machine is a K6-2+ 450@500 with 384 PC100, Linksys 10/100 NIC, S3 Diamond Stealth 3D 4MB, and the Seagate Barracuda 200GB.

 
1. Be careful, your chipset might not like that size of a drive, you might need a pci card to be able to "see" it all.
2. Outbound blocking? Real stateful packet inspection? No reason really if what you have works for you, but I do recommend seperating the functions.
3. / -10GB
swap 1GB
/home -the rest

I like having /tmp and /var, but I don't think Linux does anything with them, security wise.
 
If you don't know linux, some firewalls like Astaro or Smoothwall would be your best bet. What yo can do really depends on the power of your cpu. For instance, you may want to do VPN. The only problem with these firewalls is that they don't let you file server at the same time. I think.
 
The Linksys router works for now, but I think I'll look into smoothwall or freesco or something along those lines for the future. I'll have to come across another old box for this since my old 486 is completely non-functioning. Smoothwall seems fairly simple to start and if I feel the need I can read and learn from there. Though I did search and a couple of the anandmembers have said they have been using it for a couple years and see no reason to switch. Either way new projects are always fun.
 
If you would like to learn Linux smootwall is a very good start.

Taking into consideration that a Wired Router is $10-$20, it a Waste of time and Money to go into Linux just because it seems ?Geeky Cool?.

In addition if would go Wireless in the future, you will have to buy the Hardware any way.
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
If you would like to learn Linux smootwall is a very good start.

Taking into consideration that a Wired Router is $10-$20, it a Waste of time and Money to go into Linux just because it seems ?Geeky Cool?.

In addition if would go Wireless in the future, you will have to buy the Hardware any way.
Click to expand...

Smoothwall isn't all that great for learning Linux simply because it lacks many of the features of a regular Linux distribution because it is meant as a firewall, not a server/desktop/anything else OS. And along a similar line, it's more than just being "geeky cool". Linux/freebsd/openbsd/whatever is a lot more powerful as a router/firewall than any cheapo system from Linksys.

But if all you want is a basic setup that you don't want to have to mess with, a Linksys would probably be the way to go. If you want a lot of options, even with a steeper learning curve, and you want to learn stuff, I'd go with Linux. And maybe I misread your post, but a firewall on your fileserver (or anything else server) is probably not a good idea security-wise.
 
I already have the Linksys. It was I use for my 2 Win2k desktops. As for "Geeky Cool" who the hell cares about that? Does "Geeky Cool" get you laid or something? Does Natalie Portman come over butt naked? I like to learn new stuff, sorry you don't. Plus, as a teacher it would be nice to be able to add a lesson on linux stuff at some point if I take the time to learn it. Now if I could just get Mandrake to install with no errors. Perhaps I need to re-download.
 
Originally posted by: haze03As for "Geeky Cool" who the hell cares about that?

Does "Geeky Cool" get you laid or something? Does Natalie Portman come over butt naked?

Now if I could just get Mandrake to install with no errors. Perhaps I need to re-download.
Click to expand...
May be Madrake Does Not install because it is Not Geeky Cool.😱

Link to: Installing Mandrake, a Newbie's Guide to Freedom.

Who is Natalie Portman? A girl from the Hardware Forum.:Q
 
haze03, a Linux router would give you the ability to do a lot more customization, and the ability (maybe requirement) to learn more about networking. If you're happy with what you have right now, then the Linksys SOHO router is fine.

Having your firewall also be your file server is a very bad idea unless you implement really aggressive security measures - if you have to ask, don't do it.
 
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