I'm planning a similar project using freeBSD and have 
the same basic questions but I also need to find some 
good documentation on configuring IPSEC and VPN tunnels. 

For freeBSD I know that I will have to compile 
additional ethernet devices into the kernel as well as 
nat and a few other things.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Doug

> Hello, this is my first post to the list, but I have been reading for a few 
> weeks now (specifically, since about the time of the Maricopa County meeting).
> 
> I am going to use a standard x86PC as an intelligent switch/gateway/router, and 
> (at least for my first iteration --  I may transition to Free/OpenBSD later) I 
> am planning on using Linux (specifically Debian, probably the new release).  I 
> have used/developed on unices for several years now, but I haven't done much 
> administration/configuration with nonstandard setups.  I plan to use 5 PCI 
> ethernet cards (probably miscellaneous based on what spare parts are available) 
> to connect four nodes and to an internal network using typical Linux software.  
> My questions are:
> 1) Will this work 'out-of-the-box', or will I need to compile a custom kernel to 
> support all 5 adapters?
> 2) Does anyone see any problems I may run into with this setup that, as a new 
> user, I might not know exist?  I assume I'll have to create new devices 
> (/dev/eth0-4 or whatever).
> 
> Thank you,
> Alaric
> 
> 
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