Larry, I queried FlashRouters if they require any vpn or dynamic dns services, or if they modify the dd-wrt firmware in any way, and got this response: "VPN and DNS service are not required at all, however it is quite simple to integrate them with DD-WRT routers. We load tested, stable DD-WRT builds onto the device, we do not modify the actual firmware." Have you had a bad experience with FlashRouters? Mark On Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 12:25 PM, Dazed_75 wrote: > Be sure to look at the fine print. They are setting that router to work > with a specific provider of what I think is dynamic DNS and offer special > encryption at fee that can come to about $10/month. > > > On Fri, Jul 6, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Mark Phillips > wrote: > >> James, >> >> It sounds like a fun project! I am very tempted....... >> >> However, I found this one - >> https://www.flashrouters.com/netgear-wnr3500l-ddwrt-router.php for $80. >> It has wireless, but I can just turn it off. A 480 MHz processor, and >> dd-wrt installed and tested with openvpn. I haven't priced out your parts >> list, but I would be surprised if it comes to less than $80. Also, I think >> the netgear router will consume less power and space in my crowded cable >> "closet" (aka the top shelf in my cupboard). >> >> Answers to your questions - >> I need a total of 20 gigabit LAN ports for my network. Currently, I have >> two 8 port gigabit switches, and 4 10/100 ports on my current BEFSX41 >> router. I want to upgrade the router for open vpn, and gigabit speeds. So >> the router is also a switch. >> >> What is the advantage of running the whole thing virtualized? >> >> But still, the fun of building this little project may outweigh the high >> costs ($ and amps)..... >> >> Mark >> >> >> On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 11:10 PM, James Dugger wrote: >> >>> MSI Micro ATX board with Athlon II processor w/ 4 PCI slots (or 2 PCI >>> and 2 PCIE) >>> 2 GB RAM >>> 4 gigabit NIC cards >>> IDE or SATA to Compact Flash Adaptor >>> Compact flash 2GB memory - install Linux or Router based distro on CF >>> card or USB memory stick >>> External power 120v to 12v transformer w/ mono power converter >>> Small micro case >>> Set BIOS to boot CF Card or USB Memory stick >>> Ubuntu 10.04 or 12.04 LTS server minimum install >>> - Install Openssh >>> - Firewall >>> - OpenVPN >>> - iptables >>> >>> Basically you are building an edge router/vpnserver. There are a lot of >>> instructions to build a high end router/openvpn system using a minimum box >>> configuration. The mobo chip and RAM maybe overkill but smaller ATOM >>> based boards probably won't have 4 PCI slots. you should be able to pick >>> up these for very reasonable cost compared to a higher end router. Do you >>> need all 4 - 1 gigabit connections to the router or can the connections to >>> the VPN be shared off of one or two NICs? OpenVPN needs a minimum of 2 >>> NIC's (Unless you have set up virtual network adaptors and bridged them >>> together). Are you dedicating each user to a NIC for speed? If not you >>> could allocate the 4 users to a NIC and connect the router/vpnserver to a 4 >>> port gigabit switch. >>> >>> I'm sure there are a number of the ways to do this and there even might >>> be fairly high end router for a good deal but most will also have built in >>> wireless as well. to find a dedicated wired only higher end router you may >>> pay as much as the system I just outlined and it would be no where near the >>> capabilities of the above system unless it was a lot more expensive. >>> >>> I'm sure that there are others here with a lot more experience with >>> consumer and enterprise level equipment then myself but I have had success >>> with the above. Also keep in mind that the Athlon II is 64bit with SVM >>> built in for virtualization. With additional memory you could run the >>> whole thing virtualized using KVM or VMware. >>> >>> Good Luck! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Jul 5, 2012 at 7:53 PM, Mark Phillips < >>> mark@phillipsmarketing.biz> wrote: >>> >>>> I am looking for a router with the following characteristics: >>>> * No wifi >>>> * 4 gigabit LAN ports >>>> * 1 WAN port to connect to my Cox Cable Modem >>>> * 400 MHZ+ processor so I can run OpenVPN SSL for a max of 4 remote >>>> users to access the LAN at the same time. >>>> >>>> The last point comes from reading various forums about running openvpn >>>> on the router, and they all say get the fastest possible cpu. I probably >>>> have to run dd-wrt on the router to get openvpn running on the router, but >>>> I am open to other options (most of the open source router packages support >>>> openvpn, so anyone will do). >>>> >>>> Thanks! >>>> >>>> Mark >>>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------- >>>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >>>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> James >>> >>> >>> >>> --------------------------------------------------- >>> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >>> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >>> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >>> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > > -- > Dazed_75 a.k.a. Larry > > Please protect my address like I protect yours. When sending messages to > multiple recipients, always use the BCC: (Blind carbon copy) and not To: or > CC:. Remove all addresses from the message body before sending a Forwarded > message. This can prevent spy programs capturing addresses from the > recipient list and message body. > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >