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What's the best MS OS to use as a firewall/router for a home network?

R

rockshox72

Member
I just got cable and wondering what OS I can use as a file server/firewall/router since getting an actual router is not cost effective right now. Preferably any MS OS, if not, can Linux do this job?
 
BSD or Linux is the most sensible, affordable option. One, they are inexpensive. Two, they excel at this task because they are more lightweight than Winblows and because they have great networking capabilities.

Winblows ICS is a weak tool to use as an Internet-sharing gateway.

Finally, you're wrong that getting a router isn't cost effective. Routers cost about $50 right now (and sometimes quite a bit less). If you consider time, trouble, and energy costs, the router is a much better option.

It's a no brainer if you have to buy any NICs to put into the PC to make it dual-homed. If you already have 2 NICs, I'd still choose the router.

File serving is a separate issue, and I'd still want a dedicated cheap SOHO router. 😉
 
Hey, I use Win2k Adv.Server with internet connection sharing. I also have it assigning IP's in my home network with it's DHCP service. I wouldn't do this with a broadband connection, however, without using Norton Personal Firewall 2002. I would also reccommend Zonealarm Personal (it's free and it works). It just didn't want to install on my current set-up, however :-( Another option is going to www.clarkconnect.org and check out thier Linux distro. It runs on a low-end machine (P-100, 486-66) with 2 network cards and serves as a router/firewall. I'm going to mess with it on an old P-100 machine I have lying around as soon as I have time. It looks cool and also works as a network drive and print server under both Windows and Linux. If you try it let me know how it works out. Hope I've helped,

Steve
steve@stsmith.net
http://www.stsmith.net
 
One thing to note. If you're going to toss the $$ at a MS os and hw, you're probably going to want to use that box for regular use, if only once in a while. Every so often you will have to reboot a windows box under normal use, then your connection is dead.

Use a throw-away box with a linux distro, because even if you install things on it, you still don't have to reboot it. Unless of course it's the kernel.
 
not only can linux do this job. but it can do it better and it can do it for free. i strongly reccomend using linux or a bsd os for this task. it's really worth it.
 
both Linux and MS do this.

Linux took me a long time to get it working, as I was using the router requirement as an opportunity to learn how the basic Linux principles work. Once I did get it setup, i managed to ruin the smp (dual proc) version of it. Not until I had reformatted a lot of times did I realize it was a now-bad second processor socket.

Basic routing can be done pretty quickly in win2k, and even more quickly with winXP. Both of those distros would be no problem for setting it up. You might want to consider one of those firewall programs, but so long as you have your patches up to date, I think you'll be ok - so long as you aren't provoking attacks.

But, gotta agree with the idea that the router will save you time and therefore money. If you are looking for an excuse to learn an OS, then this is a good excercise. If you have other commitments, maybe the router is just a better option.
 
I'm still considering whether to get a hardware router(possibly wireless), but it wouldn't serve my need as a file/MS app/game server at the same time. I'm leaning to setup up a W2K adv server, so that way I have something more to learn and since I got 2 out of 5 systems in my house just sitting around collecting dust being unused.
 


<< I just got cable and wondering what OS I can use as a file server/firewall/router since getting an actual router is not cost effective right now. Preferably any MS OS, if not, can Linux do this job? >>





<< I'm still considering whether to get a hardware router(possibly wireless), but it wouldn't serve my need as a file/MS app/game server at the same time. I'm leaning to setup up a W2K adv server, so that way I have something more to learn and since I got 2 out of 5 systems in my house just sitting around collecting dust being unused. >>



You realize a hardware router thingy will be less expensive than some Microsoft OSes right? Not to mention less hardware. You can setup a game server behind a router without problems.
 
True, i know there are hardware routers out there that are cheap and affordable, but I'm unemployed and spent plenty of money and running a big CC balance on other stuff thanks to the Anand effect already. I have copies of all the common OSes, but haven't done the research as to which to use and run. Just wanna get a general idea that suit my needs right now, until I find a new job.

Thanks everyone.
 


<< True, i know there are hardware routers out there that are cheap and affordable, but I'm unemployed and spent plenty of money and running a big CC balance on other stuff thanks to the Anand effect already. I have copies of all the common OSes, but haven't done the research as to which to use and run. Just wanna get a general idea that suit my needs right now, until I find a new job.

Thanks everyone. >>



You bought Win2k advanced server and never used it? WTF?
 
Linux took me a long time to get it working

If you do it yourself it can take a while if you have no idea how to use Linux, but there are distros out there that are specifically made for this and set it all up for you, Coyote and LRP both do this and I believe they also run off a floppy and will work on anything down to a 486 with 8M memory.
 


<< I just got cable and wondering what OS I can use as a file server/firewall/router since getting an actual router is not cost effective right now. Preferably any MS OS, if not, can Linux do this job? >>



I would consider a 4-port Linksys box, specs here. I personally think using the PC for internet sharing is a big pain. You have to leave your machine on all the time, and it just adds to your admin nightmare. It should simplify your life a whole lot (unles you need w2k or something else from a learning standpoint, etc.). Good Luck!

Edit: Sorry, didnt read your other posts, you should be able to find a barebones router for cheap, DLink, SMC are others to consider. Also, assuming that you have not "opened" or registered your w2k advanced server, you could sell it, not sure but worth a try. Best of Luck!!
 


<< Basic routing can be done pretty quickly in win2k, and even more quickly with winXP. >>


are there changes to the tcp/ip stack in XP that i should know about? im gonna run some throughput tests, but i dont believe there should be any performance gain. not to mention any gain, will be entirely unnoticeable in 99% of the environments you run it.

as far as addressing the post. win2k/xp (assuming u have hardware to run them) can do ICS easily. its effective for home users, but u might look into automate update patches and a personal firewall (i personal find them horrendously insecure). if youre gonna use windows, make sure you keep your patches bleeding edge (which has its own problems). and dont store anything secure on your router.

bsd/linux would be a great solution. floppy-based linux router distributions (freesco, coyote, lrp) on 386s w/ 16mb of memory accomplish everything ICS does, best part is you wont need a hard drive. ive never realy audited the performance of these boxes but i never felt a drop in performance when i switched from win2k adv server gateway functions to a trash 386 running linux. i dont think u will either. im sure theres a limit to what the 386 16mb memory can handle, but u wont reach that in home/small office use (unless youre maybe a warez junkie and have a fat pipe > T1/highspeed DSL. another advantage of linux is *COST*. if u have an old machine, u can run linux. youll most likely have to buy a new machine for windows. 2.4 kernel with iptables has a tremendous wealth of security features, if u want to take the time and secure it.

openbsd would be a strong choice. bsd allows you to securely secure your security. did i mention security? although, honestly, ive never used bsd extensively. linux is more where my experience lies, but bsd should be easy to learn.

those linksys routers are ok. there nothing to write home about, just any idiot can set one up.
 
I'll second the Linux recomendation.

Linux has it all over the MS OS's when it comes to security, robustness, upgradability, and price.

 
I would say Linux, b/c once you get it up and running, it requires a minumum of tweaking to keep it running.
 
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