linux pc based router

[Pantlegz]

I know I've seen it, I searched here and google without much luck. maybe it's the wording or maybe I'm not supposed to find it. But there are, or were, a few router/firewall programs(maybe OS's) that you could install on a PC and use it as a router/firewall. does anyone know what I'm talking about? And where might I be able to find it?

 

[Madwand1]

There are several. Just Google the names. E.g. IPCop. Its Wiki has a few other links, and if you search on those names, you can find more...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPCop

 

[Plugers]

Smoothwall is another

 

[cyberfish]

correct me if I am wrong, but they all use iptables as the backend. That is to say, you can write your own iptables rules to do the forwarding too. Not difficult at all either, just a few lines that can be easily found on google. I used to do that (switched to a cheap consumer router because we end up needing wireless).

 

[amdskip]

Smoothwall is great and offers many addons and features. I have a box setup for the school I work for and it filters content and anything else I configure it with. That reminds me I need to setup a newer box this summer with the new release.

 

[MetaDFF]

I use an IPCOP box at home and it is great. It's the kind of firewall/router you set and forget.
There is an option to do a solid-state compact flash install so that your router runs without a spinning disk.

There are also many useful add-ons which are easy to install such as an advanced web proxy (for filtering etc), road-warrior VPN (via Zerina), Wake-on-Lan, and many more.