Speed is the same with router or without..............

[skyking]

I use a computer running FreeBSD and IPFW for a router, and recently took it down for some maintenance. I ran speed tests at DSLreports.com, and thought I'd share the results. The first listing is with my computer connected directly to the cable modem, the second is with it connected via a switch to the router computer.

Direct connection to speakeasy's test: 877/124
Through router computer: 879/124

Direct connection to Megapath test: 858/122
Through router computer: 895/121

Direct connection to Linkline's test: 934/121
through router computer: 892/124

This router is an old 486 with the evergreen technologies 120MHZ upgrade chip, 32 MB of ram, and two 10baseT sMC ISA Network cards.

 

[Monoman]

Hey there, I am running ClosedBSD with ipfw. I am runing it on a p200 64mb ram and 2 realtek 10/100 nics. I am looking forward to replacing my linksys router with my ne BSD router here really soon. I am just looking for some examples of ipfw config files to get an idea on how I need to set this up. I have a lot of exp with linux and a little with iptables so I am not expecting it to be too hard.


Mitch

 

[sswingle]

The router shouldn't slow things down. Those numbers are very close. I'm sure you would get similiar differences running multiple tests connected the same way.

 

[Nothinman]

Did you expect something else? It doesn't take much CPU time to do basic NAT. Hell I have a Ultra1 167Mhz with 128M doing NAT, snort and snmpd (for bandwidth graphs) and it's more power than I need.

 

[skyking]

I did not expect a difference, but wanted to post it for those who weren't sure that an old piece of memorabilia in the middle of their connection would not slow it down.
EDIT: monoman, I can send you an example Ipfw.config, along with the entries needed in rc.d. either an email or PM, your choice.
EDIT 2: Email sent!

 

[Monoman]

email would be great! mitchmaris@linuxquestions.net

thanks bro!

 

[Mucman]

good post... most people for some reason think a 486 is too slow to do anything!

I still recall how well a 486DX2 66MHz was able to run Doom II

 

[skyking]

Yes indeed, and folks also misunderstand the utility of 10baseT NICs for this application. I will be in trouble when my ISP comes through with the promise of 15Mbit internet speeds....

 

[Kadarin]

Heh.. A few years ago I tested throughput on a couple of soho NAT boxes, and found that the Linksys befsr41 (the first one they came out with, haven't looked at new hardware) can blast about 5.5Mbps through NAT during an ftp transfer. Oddly, this varies somewhat depending on the OS used for the ftp client/server.

 

[dxpaap]

So I can acturally put my old P200 to product use !

think I'll put that on my list of things to play with

 

[Jeff7]

Cool - I've got the components available to build a router right now - old 486 board, an AMD DX-4 486 proc, think it's 100MHz, or maybe 66MHz. And two 10Mbit NIC's. Too bad I've got a router already. I've not done any testing though with or without it though - I don't like to keep switching what's hooked to the cable modem. Once they log two MAC addresses at my ISP, they won't let anything else connect, and it's a lengthy process to get them to let you back in. (Well, actually, the changes they make take under 30 seconds, but getting them to go to the trouble of DOING that is what takes a day or more.)
How big is the hard drive on this router you've got? I can't imagine that it'd need to be too large.

 

[skyking]

I have been going between direct to modem and to my router, and windows lets you alias mac addy, so you will get same IP every time!! Very cool.
EDIT: 1.2 gig leaves room for compiling, no sweat, on a minimum build.

 

[Monoman]

I am not pimping Jeff7's thread but I bought my hardware form him. Great trader! I replace my p3 800 and 2 nics with the 200 as it was a bit of an over kill

thanks Jeff!