[NTLUG:Discuss] use linux box with 3 NICs

[Bug Hunter]

  I have used a version of this box. It can be had for as little as $99 at
best buy.  It works great.  It times out telnet sessions fairly quickly,
but otherwise it works more or less flawlessly.  It also has rudimentary
port forwarding.  You can put a web server behind it and only allow that
service to peek through the firewall.  You can also do other services,
that was just an example.

  I have had it lock up during configuration multiple times.  (Their book
even says to remove power if it locks up!)  However, once it is running,
it does not lock up.

  There is a reset switch on the back that, if pressed for over 3 seconds,
puts the box back in the default configuration (and supposedly wipes out
any firmware upgrades), which makes it easy to recover from a mistake.

  Since Linux has so many possibilities for holes in it, unless you are
watching the machine all the time, it is not a good choice for a firewall
for the clueless. u(Uless it has been set up by an expert to have NO
services on it.)  If you have half an understanding of it, it makes a
great firewall.


bug

 

On Tue, 27 Feb 2001, Fred James wrote:

> Q: You have 1 IP and you want to share it out over an internal, private
> network, to 2 or more devices.  Can you do that?
> A: Yes.
> Q: Can you do that with Linux?
> A: Yes.
> Q: Can you do that with a commercially available solution?
> A: Yes.
> 
> >From the Linux point of view, you get total control, and pass or fail it is
> yours - you out to be able to do it for $200.00 or less, if you shop
> carefully.  You will learn a lot, and that is not to be discounted.
> 
> >From the commercial solution point of view, you can get a Linksys solution that
> may very well do everything you need for less than $200.00 -
> http://www.linksys.com/products/group.asp?grid=5  I wouldn't necessarily call
> it the be-all/end-all, but it will get you up and running fast.  Two points to
> remember: (a) it works with Linux, but Linksys tech will profess to know
> nothing about it, and (b) it will pretty much insist on acting as the DHCP
> hosts - yes, your printers can have static IPs, but you aren't serving those
> out to the WEB anyway, are you(?).
> 
> 
>