You mention Debian, to which I have just converted.
It is fantastic. apt-* makes command line
administration a breeze, which is a bonus for
keeping your gateway secure.

That said, there are a number of projects
specifically targetting this application.
Have you looked at, for example LEAF (Linux
Embedded Appliance Firewall)?

http://sourceforge.net/projects/leaf/
http://linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=4772

Basically, you create a bootable media with
the correct ethernet drivers and configuration
parameters. Remove the hard drive from the
machine you'll be using, pop in the bootable
media, and let her rip.

Since the media is read-only, it's harder
to get a virus or worm. Upgrading is harder
than Debian - requires burning a new CD -
but corruption is impossible. I'm guessing
the initial configuration is going to require
more work, but once you have the basics down,
keeping it current should be easy.

I've just become frustrated with my current
firewall (based on Mandrake 8.0), and am going
to give this a try in the near future.

On Tue, 6 Aug 2002, Alaric Fox wrote:

> 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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>
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 'Microsoft also warned today that the era of "open computing," the
 free exchange of digital information that has defined the personal
 computer industry, is ending.'

 http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/25/technology/25NET.html

 Will Microsoft permit you to use your mission critical data when
 you need it?  Linux will, and you have the source to prove it.
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