Gentoo Forums
Gentoo Forums
Gentoo Forums
Quick Search: in
A simple home router
View unanswered posts
View posts from last 24 hours

 
Reply to topic    Gentoo Forums Forum Index Gentoo Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
matt_30
n00b
n00b


Joined: 10 Mar 2005
Posts: 15
Location: Portsmouth, England

PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:48 pm    Post subject: A simple home router Reply with quote

After months of frustration with my current router crashing and not having the functionality i require i am looking to build my own and install a copy of Gentoo on it.

After deciding the spec like the services i would install and the hardware i come to the problem of the base unit.

I am looking for a small low powered quiet base unit with 2 network ports on it. It doesn't need a cd/dvd drive or even good graphics but i am unable to find anything like this on the market.

Does anyone have any suggestions to what i could use?
_________________
Matt.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
lxg
Veteran
Veteran


Joined: 12 Nov 2005
Posts: 1019
Location: Aachen, Germany

PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The OpenWRT project is all about open source routers and networking hardware. I'm sure you will also find good ideas for hardware there. For example the Linksys routers are known to be great for the type of box you have in mind.

Apart from that, I've read about people composing their own router on an ITX platform. You'll find hardware parts for these usually at electronics stores.
_________________
lxg.de – codebits and tech talk
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
minor_prophets
Apprentice
Apprentice


Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Posts: 281

PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's a bunch of threads here covering routers from boxes with multiple nics to embedded Gentoo installations. Take a look around. I settled on a Jetway C7 and am currently building a hardened install. Its an ITX factor and the cpu is purported to only consume 7W of power. I bought a daughterboard that has 3 GBit Lan interfaces. So 4 nic interfaces total.

This project is forcing an education(a healthy hurting) on me. Oh well, an excersize in patience that will not be without its rewards.

What do you intend to run on the router? What purpose do you have for the router? Firewall, http proxy, IDS, ...? Once you answer that question, you might better determine what hardware you'll need to run the software on.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
matt_30
n00b
n00b


Joined: 10 Mar 2005
Posts: 15
Location: Portsmouth, England

PostPosted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

so far i plan to use it to just put the basic networking on there with a firewall, dns server, throw in a wireless card, and maybe bittorrent.

I dont plan to have X on it but will be installing things like openssh. A sip server maybe a project in the future.
_________________
Matt.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
minor_prophets
Apprentice
Apprentice


Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Posts: 281

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In that case, if you have an old computer in operating condition. Why not try this with Gentoo? There is a Gentoo home router post around here somewhere. You'll just need a few extra nic cards and you're off.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
matt_30
n00b
n00b


Joined: 10 Mar 2005
Posts: 15
Location: Portsmouth, England

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does anyone know if they do pci cards with 4 nic's on them?
_________________
Matt.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
minor_prophets
Apprentice
Apprentice


Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Posts: 281

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep, take a look around. Verify if they're properly supported on the linux driver side. Their are a few.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
slackline
Veteran
Veteran


Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 1475
Location: /uk/sheffield

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd second the idea of getting one of the older Linksys WRT routers. I've two set up in my house.

Check out Ultimate WRT54G hacks (unfortunately currently off-line). The book is a little dated on the software side as OpenWRT has progressed a lot since the book was published (e.g. WebGUI now available) but very handy for the hardware hacks and getting started.
_________________
"Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer.  Art is everything else we do." - Donald Knuth
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dammital
Apprentice
Apprentice


Joined: 05 Nov 2004
Posts: 189

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:32 pm    Post subject: Re: A simple home router Reply with quote

matt_30 wrote:
I am looking for a small low powered quiet base unit with 2 network ports on it. It doesn't need a cd/dvd drive or even good graphics

I'm fond of my Soekris Net5501, which I see is available in Europe. No display adapter, no HD (you can install one, but I live perfectly well with a CF).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
minor_prophets
Apprentice
Apprentice


Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Posts: 281

PostPosted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Soekris is nice and available here in the US, but it is expensive. ~$350 US without the CF. However, there are many howto's out there and distros which are appropriate if you want something along the lines of the Soekris. Who knows, you may even learn OpenBSD in the process while using their pf firewall(one of the best their is)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Gentoo Forums Forum Index Gentoo Chat All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum