Got to get away from gmail. No list reply feature. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Heddle Weaver <weaver2wo...@gmail.com> Date: 21 February 2011 13:41 Subject: Re: selecting old machines for firewall/router use To: Greg Madden <gomadtr...@gci.net>
On 21 February 2011 12:26, Greg Madden <gomadtr...@gci.net> wrote: > > > On Sunday 20 February 2011 03:03:35 pm Nate Bargmann wrote: > > * On 2011 20 Feb 14:22 -0600, Elmer E. Dow wrote: > > > Greetings: > > > > > > I'd like to set up a network with a firewall for my home computers > > > for security, control and convenience (file sharing), as well as to > > > learn about networking. We have the Internet entering via a Motorola > > > DSL modem and it currently passes data through a NetGear wireless > > > router. I'd like to construct my own firewall/router to connect our > > > three active machines and also use the NetGear for wireless access > > > when needed. > > > > Reusing old hardware is fine. Be sure that you're not going to spend as > > much or more getting the hardware into an old computer as you might with > > a router capable of running OpenWRT or similar. Last year I bought an > > Asus WL-500 GP from New Egg for about $60. Granted, one must read specs > > carefully if more memory/hardware capability is required. Not to be > > overlooked are the space and energy requirements of an old desktop > > versus a modern router capable of running an embedded Linux > > distribution. > > > +1 > > ditch the old computer , todays routers with dd-wrt or openwrt are more > reliable > and cheaper to run. Buffalo routers come with dd-wrt pre-installed. > Come with a few things installed. I remember a few years back, a furore over factory installed trojans on Belkin routers. Belkin apologised and all the noise went away, but I haven't forgotten in the current atmosphere of net/privacy invasion. Why I'm thinking off doing the same thing. Entry box with firewall/router and port forwarding to another old stackable desktop for email. Upside? Networking knowledge! Enough for a small business, and the basis to look at larger projects. Regards, Weaver. -- Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. — Lucius Annæus Seneca. Terrorism, the new religion. -- Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. — Lucius Annæus Seneca. Terrorism, the new religion.
