Linux and Windows

[LiVeWiRe]

Just curious if this is a plausible setup or even worth it...just FYI, no experience with Linux at all currently.

I imagine that a Linux server can be used as a firewall/gateway (using DSL) for a small Windows network but am not 100% sure, how to set it up, etc.

If so, what type of machine could it run on? Software required, etc.?

Thanks in advance,
-LW

[bailey]

most small networks with a wideband internet connection will be useing a router with a built in switch, which is a hardware firewall, so the linux server firewall idea would not be necessary at all, and a whole lot simpler if your not familar with linux.
now if your wanting to learn linux and all its uses then it is a great idea, you will need to study some books on it to learn how to do it with some help here in the lunix forum, and most any working system will work, if your wanting to ust one of the newer distros of linux, then a fairly decent system will be required.

[LiVeWiRe]

Thanks Bailey. Yes, my primary goal here is to learn something about Linux. Thought it would be a good idea to use it as a firewall/gateway but just not sure about the details.

-LW

[apappasmurf]

As a useful starting point visit the About Debian website at www.aboutdebian.com . There is a tutorial on setting up a home network.

[LiVeWiRe]

Originally Posted by apappasmurf As a useful starting point visit the About Debian website at www.aboutdebian.com . There is a tutorial on setting up a home network.

Cool--THANKS apappasmurf! I'll check it out...

-LW

[kilgoretrout]

Linux can easily be used as a firewall gateway and there are linux distros specially designed to do just that. Some can even run off a floppy. This used to be a typical way to reuse old PCs that couldn't be used for anything else. Now, most hardware routers have built in firewalls, at least the good ones do. If you look under the hood of these routers, they usually run a modified linux. Some can even be hacked to do other things.
Hardware requirements are minimal for making a linux firewall/gateway - certainly any pentium class PC that can accept two pci nics is about it.

If you just want to get your feet wet with linux, I'd recommend you take a look at any of several bootable live linux cds like knoppix or mepis. The isos are freely downloadable. Just burn the iso as an image and boot off the cd. You boot into a full graphical linux desktop and nothing is written to your hard drive.
This might be better than fooling around with linux firewall distros which are typically very stripped down and optimised to do one thing - act as a firewall/gateway.

[LiVeWiRe]

Thanks kilgoretrout! I appreciate the insight. I downloaded MEPIS last night so hopefully, I'll have a chance to load it up this weekend.

-LW