Subj : Router/Firewall Advice
To   : MIKE POWELL
From : Richardw
Date : Tue Dec 28 2004 09:54 am

  Re: Router/Firewall Advice
  By: MIKE POWELL to ALL on Sat Dec 25 2004 02:41 pm

 > I have been attempting to set up one of the "convert an old PC to a router/
 > firewall" packages with little success.  I am trying to set up a Pentium 133
 > with 64meg RAM.  I have tried freesco, but the dial-up ISP portion of it is
 > not really functional, and I have also tried Coyote Linux without success.
 > Ultimately, I will be using a cable modem, but I don't want to have Goober
 > the Cable Guy over to hook it up until I know the router works with the rest
 > of my network (hence the attempts to use it on dial-up).
 > 
 > With that in mind, I need suggestions/opinions on other router options. My
 > only prereqs is that the software work on the aforementioned Pentium, with
 > both dial-up and ethernet (cable) options.  It can work with both an etherne
 > attached and USB modem, but not USB-only.  Debian-based is a plus, but not
 > necessarily required. It does not have to boot off of a floppy, but would ne
 > to be installable on a system with no greater than a 1gig HD. I guess I coul
 > install debian and set one up myself, but I can no longer find the FAQ/how-t
 > on that, and I am looking for something with a lower frustration level at
 > this point.  :)
 > 
 > It does not have to be linux-based, necessarily.  I do have Windows 95/98/NT
 > OS/2 Warp4, and even DOS also at my disposal, if there is something solid th
 > will run on top of one of those.  I'd also be open to trying something based
 > on BSD.
 > 
 > A full-blown linux distro with a router install option (I think I have seen
 > one, but don't remember where) is also an acceptable option.  Whatever I
 > choose has to be networkable with Linux, Win9x, OS/2 Warp4, and DOS machines
 > as that is what else is on the LAN that could potentially access the Interne
 > through the router.

I use FreeBSD for this.  It works beautifully.  It has ran for more than 1 year
without a reboot.

.