[NTLUG:Discuss] Router Needed?

[Chris Cox]

Kenneth Loafman wrote:
...
> Been thinking more of a small Linux box with 2 NIC's per a previous 
> suggestion.  Could provide DHCP, isolation, etc., and would be cheaper 
> than an intelligent switch solution, with perhaps more actual control 
> over what is isolated and what is visible.
> 
> There is even a VLAN compatible extension to Linux.  Still investigating.
> 
> Thanks for all the ideas so far.
> 

Just my two cents... I agree (I think) with the Linux box scenario given
what I think the security needs may be.  A cable/dsl router is mainly
for providing a nat'd gw environment.  With the Linux soln you should
be able to run a pure proxy driven solution for access to things on
your protected net.  This is much better than using some kind of
nat.  Not saying you can't port restrict things with a nat soln (or even
an iptables soln if you use Linux)...but seems the hard way of getting
things done.