I've been using a dedicated linux box as both my file server, router,
firewall, at one point, my mail server. 

I'll agree with deepak on a few points...if the box crashes while
someone wants to use the Internet...oops. I had one embarrising
situation when i had some guests over and we all stood around waiting
for me to hook up a monitor, reboot the box, and troubleshoot.

a smaller embedded machine, such as a DSL router, will take up less
space and consume less power. 

It is _so_ much simplier to use an off the shelf DSL router. 

That is either a good thing or a bad thing. If you're new to linux or
have no NEED of linux, but are interested, then managing your own linux
box, even if it is for just accessing cox cable,  is a Good thing.
Others, who work with linux, are exposed to it for a better part of
their day, and don't need the learning experience, want the simplier
thing. 

And even if you do take the learning-tool-experience angle, i still
messed up....i'm not seperating my firewall from my other servers. 

Though to be fair, i doubt a cheap dsl router can match a linux
firewall. Iptables, daunting at first, are more flexible and stronger
than the dsl router's built in firewall. If you want to beat a
home-brewed linux firewall, you'll have to buy a cisco box. 


Summary: 
If you want to learn linux, go the hard route and build a two nick linux
box. 
If you want to simplify your life, buy an off the shelf  dsl router. 


On Wed, 2003-01-08 at 10:00, Deepak Saxena wrote:
> 
> Go buy a linksys router box. Seriously.  I know people will go off
> about how using a dedicated linux box is a better, but IMHO I don't
> agree. A Linksys box takes up a _lot_ less space than a dedicated machine, 
> requires almost no power, etc.  Also, what happens if for some reason
> you need to take the Linux router down for an upgrade or if the disk
> creashes while someone else at home wants to use the web? SOL. The
> Linksys has no mechanical parts and is much less prone to HW errors
> then a Linux box. Management is also lot simpler IMHO.
> 
> ~Deepak
> 
> -- 
> Deepak Saxena - dsaxena@plexity.net
> 
> They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security,
> deserve neither liberty or security - Benjamin Franklin - 
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