Freeware to Replace My Linksys Router?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chrissy Cruiser
  • Start date Start date
Sick of having to replace hardware routers. I found this below for Linux
but nothing for W2K.

http://www.freesco.org/?L=overview
Click to expand...

I was sick of replacing Hardware routers so I dug out my old P100 and
installed smoothwall.

www.smoothwall.org .

Technically its linux, but in reality its just a computer based
firewall, with php interface to configure like a Linksys etc. etc.
Feels exactly like a router only way more dependable. Piece of cake
to install and maintain, can't recommend it enough.
 
I was sick of replacing Hardware routers so I dug out my old P100 and
installed smoothwall.

www.smoothwall.org .

Technically its linux, but in reality its just a computer based
firewall, with php interface to configure like a Linksys etc. etc.
Feels exactly like a router only way more dependable. Piece of cake
to install and maintain, can't recommend it enough.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah... smoothwall makes me hard.

Cheers,
Marko
 
I was sick of replacing Hardware routers so I dug out my old P100 and
installed smoothwall.

www.smoothwall.org .

Technically its linux, but in reality its just a computer based
firewall, with php interface to configure like a Linksys etc. etc.
Feels exactly like a router only way more dependable. Piece of cake
to install and maintain, can't recommend it enough.
Click to expand...

Let me see if I understand this. I install SWall on either an existing
machine (let's call it the Gateway) which also has a NIC and the ADSL or a
separate one. Enter the appropriate config and "Voila!, my 4 PC network
comes back alive.

Did I get this right?
 
Let me see if I understand this. I install SWall on either an existing
machine (let's call it the Gateway) which also has a NIC and the ADSL or a
separate one. Enter the appropriate config and "Voila!, my 4 PC network
comes back alive.

Did I get this right?
Click to expand...
Correct, well there is an install guide, but basically. I had never
installed one before, and I had my 6 computer network back up and
running in about an hour.
 
Correct, well there is an install guide, but basically. I had never
installed one before, and I had my 6 computer network back up and
running in about an hour.
Click to expand...
BTW I think it has to be on a new box, but the requirements aren't
very much it will run on a 486... My smoothwall runs on a P100 with 32
megs of ram and 200 meg harddrive. Very best router I could possibly
get for around 30 bucks.
 
BTW I think it has to be on a new box, but the requirements aren't
very much it will run on a 486... My smoothwall runs on a P100 with 32
megs of ram and 200 meg harddrive. Very best router I could possibly
get for around 30 bucks.
Click to expand...

I got a couple of carcasses lying underfeets that would do. So you hook the
"new" box up to the network and make it a dedicated "router" (I guess you
could have it be a backup machine too) with the ADSL linked to it, go about
configging the "router PC" and away you go.

Hm. This sounds abfab. I hate Linksys who won;t talk to NetGear who wont
talk to Linksys etc.

Now, If i can just find a way to get my Xbox (wireless 2.4g) in this
deal.......
 
Correct, well there is an install guide, but basically. I had never
installed one before, and I had my 6 computer network back up and
running in about an hour.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Eejaybee. I am more to the dummy side than the nerd. Sounds
reassuring.
 
Chrissy Cruiser wrote in
I got a couple of carcasses lying underfeets that would do. So you
hook the "new" box up to the network and make it a dedicated
"router" (I guess you could have it be a backup machine too) with
the ADSL linked to it, go about configging the "router PC" and
away you go.

Hm. This sounds abfab. I hate Linksys who won;t talk to NetGear
who wont talk to Linksys etc.

Now, If i can just find a way to get my Xbox (wireless 2.4g) in
this deal.......
Click to expand...

Hi Chrissy,
The installation of Smoothwall is pretty simple. You will need to have
a miminum of 2 NICs to set up the old box as a router/firewall.
You feed into the router box just the same way that you feed into your
Linksys. The second NIC then feeds to a switch or hub. With 3 NICs you
can set up a DMZ box outside the protection of Smoothie.

There are several good Linux based distros that you can use for router
duty. I have been using IPCop for a while installed on a PII-200 with
128 mb RAM (a bit of overkill). Another is RedWall that is under a
constant state of developement and runs on a RAMDISC exclusively.

IPCop: http://ipcop.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/IPCop/WebHome
RedWall: http://www.redwall-firewall.com/tiki-index.php
 
Hi Chrissy,
Click to expand...

Hi Kurty :)
The installation of Smoothwall is pretty simple. You will need to have
a miminum of 2 NICs to set up the old box as a router/firewall.
Click to expand...

Got that.
You feed into the router box just the same way that you feed into your
Linksys. The second NIC then feeds to a switch or hub. With 3 NICs you
can set up a DMZ box outside the protection of Smoothie.
Click to expand...

Why do I need a Demilitarized Zone, Kurt?
There are several good Linux based distros that you can use for router
duty. I have been using IPCop for a while installed on a PII-200 with
128 mb RAM (a bit of overkill). Another is RedWall that is under a
constant state of developement and runs on a RAMDISC exclusively.

IPCop: http://ipcop.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/IPCop/WebHome
RedWall: http://www.redwall-firewall.com/tiki-index.php
Click to expand...

Thank you so much.

To all the guys who are helping me.

<ripping blouse off>
 
Chrissy Cruiser wrote in
Why do I need a Demilitarized Zone, Kurt?
Click to expand...

No you don't *need* a DMZ. Some folks use one to set up their web
servers etc on the outside of the firewall/defense grid. Having a box
in the DMZ is also useful for doing your own security scanning.

Having said that, I discontinued using a DMZ on my home LAN after about
three months. With IPCop I have never had any reason to think that my
LAN had been penetrated at any time. It's like the IPCop motto sez:
"The packets stop here."
Thank you so much.
Click to expand...

YW. Setting up IPCop takes maybe 30 minutes. I'd suggest reading thru
the installation manual as well as the Operator's manual at least
twice. The actuall installation script is easy to use and configuration
is fairly straight forward.
 
Thanks, Eejaybee. I am more to the dummy side than the nerd. Sounds
reassuring.
Click to expand...

NP, about the xbox I'm assuming you have a switch to plug into the deal,
or at least a hub, you can just plug the xbox into it, open the ports on
the smoothy, and away you go.
 
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