Setting Up a New Network: Suggestions

[JustinSampson]

Hey,
Currently I have a simple network set up at home using a linksys router.

What I need to do:

Connect multipule work stations (+4) with internet access
Connect a Web Server that will get all incoming traffic
Connect a Database (mySQL) Server which will compliment the other Web Server

What I want to do:

I've been hearing about people using old PC's as Firewalls/Routers by using some special linux distro. Is this a good idea, which would you recomend?
If I go with the linux firewall/router, what hardware will I need besides the PC? How will I connect the workstations? Will a hub pluged into a NIC on the firewall/router PC work?

As you can see, I don't know very much about this stuff, and I'm not even sure what forum it should be in.

Thanks,
Justin Sampson

 

[Hoober]

Justin, you should probably post this in the networking forum.

Regardless, you won't need a separate box to be a firewall/router if you are using the Linksys. You're going to need to forward port 80 from the router to the web server box.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: JustinSampson


As you can see, I don't know very much about this stuff, and I'm not even sure what forum it should be in.

Thanks,
Justin Sampson

How about the networking forum

 

[JustinSampson]

Opps. I didn't even know there was a networking forum.

And I know I could use the linksys router, but I just fell like learing somthing new.

 

[skyking]

Parts for a Freebsd router:
1) old computer, P90-120-ish, 32Mb of ram is fine
2) ISA 10baseT Nics. you do not need 10/100, unless you have a T-3 type connection
1) floppy drive for computer.
1) 1.2+ gig harddrive for computer.
Time and patience, and RTM.

 

[steell]

Originally posted by: skyking
Parts for a Freebsd router:
1) old computer, P90-120-ish, 32Mb of ram is fine
2) ISA 10baseT Nics. you do not need 10/100, unless you have a T-3 type connection
1) floppy drive for computer.
1) 1.2+ gig harddrive for computer.
Time and patience, and RTM.

Use the same hardware, but install ClarkConnect instead. It's a customized version of RedHat, easy install, includes dynamic DNS, and it's all free. I have it running on an old Dell P-200, and it sits on a shelf, no keyboard/mouse/monitor. Everything is controlled through a web browser on any other computer. It's plugged in between my cable modem and an 8 port switch, and has been running trouble free for a couple years.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: steell

Originally posted by: skyking
Parts for a Freebsd router:
1) old computer, P90-120-ish, 32Mb of ram is fine
2) ISA 10baseT Nics. you do not need 10/100, unless you have a T-3 type connection
1) floppy drive for computer.
1) 1.2+ gig harddrive for computer.
Time and patience, and RTM.

Use the same hardware, but install ClarkConnect instead. It's a customized version of RedHat, easy install, includes dynamic DNS, and it's all free. I have it running on an old Dell P-200, and it sits on a shelf, no keyboard/mouse/monitor. Everything is controlled through a web browser on any other computer. It's plugged in between my cable modem and an 8 port switch, and has been running trouble free for a couple years.

That works good if all you want to do is a router with DHCP, but if you want to learn unix, and set up a fileserver, webserver, DNS server, mailserver, using a 'nix system will get you started learning the stuff.

If you are concerned about doing it all via command line, check out this site, http://www.fwbuilder.org/
It gives you a gui interface, with a ton of options to set up and maintain your firewall.

 

[groovin]

i prefer openBSD myself because i like pf. freeBSD is great as well.

i agree with skyking, if you want to learn more, go with a *nix variant like freeBSD. if you really want to give yourself a hard time, try openBSD (it was hard for me at least).

me personally, i like linux alot, but dont care much for iptables.