Router-Gateway-Firewall solution for less than 150??

[George Toft]

1.  Get an old 486 or low end pentium.  retrobox.com
has them for $15-30.
2.  Get two nics.  $25
3.  Download a floppy-based linux router.  Config
and go.  I have some LRP images that work.  LRP is
based on Debian, and is a bitch to set up, however,
my images work (that's why I posted them - no, not 
because I'm a Linux Guru, but because LRP is a bitch).  
Others on the list have suggested Coyote, and I'm sure 
you'll hear more.
4.  Get a hub and some cables.  $50.  I've seen
Network in a box that has NIC's, cables, hub for $80.

The really hard part after that is to set up your
Windows box to use your Linux Router as the default
gateway (no dhcp) and manually configure your DNS
entries for your resolver.  Same thing for your Linux 
box.  Wait, this part isn't hard.  

George


Edgardo Giraud wrote:
> 
> Hi peeps, this is my first time writing to the list
> even though I've been on the list for some time
> now(those damn lurkers).
> Well, anyways, I need your help.  I need to find a
> network solution for less than 150 bucks to solve the
> dire dilemma that is our home network - I run both
> Mandrake 8.1 and Win2k on my system and we're on a Cox
> cable connection.
> Now, the problem is that every time I change OS's, my
> wife's computer, which runs Win95, has to be changed
> to whatever the current OS's setting is, since i run a
> simple proxy in Win2k while Mandrake's network is set
> up as a full blown router.  Right now the modem is set
> up on her computer and we're linked to a 4-port 10Mbit
> hub through in a private LAN and she's running
> WinProxy.
> I've suggested getting a "bitch" computer to act as a
> router but my wife's not down... I'm not very well
> versed in setting up the networking in both the OS's
> so that she doesn't have to keep changing her settings
> every time I change OS's, so I need your help - any
> software, hardware, tips and tricks and flat out smack
> downs would be humbly appreciated and well received.
> The other problem is that I'm a hardware freak... I
> love to mess with my computer. So, a gateway solution
> seems very appealing to me, since it would allow both
> of us to be connected no matter what and let me screw
> around with my system all I want - so any suggestions
> in that arena would help too.
> 
> Thanks a million!
> --Egui!
> 
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