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Thread ID: 84355 2007-11-02 07:19:00 Old computer as firewall jcr1 (893) Press F1
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607692 2007-11-02 07:19:00 In setting up a computer as a firewall, I have seen some positive comments on "Smoothwall".
Also there are pro's & con's stated for this sort of exercise.

What would be people's experiences or opinions on this sort of thing.
jcr1 (893)
607693 2007-11-02 07:32:00 how do you connect to the internet? if you use an external adsl router then an extra external firewall is not any great advantage unless your running a caching proxy. tweak'e (69)
607694 2007-11-02 07:37:00 how do you connect to the internet? if you use an external adsl router then an extra external firewall is not any great advantage unless your running a caching proxy.

Not for me tweak'e, I use an external adsl router, so I'm fine.

This is for some folk who have just signed up for broadband. I have a modem I can give them and they have a couple of old computers, lying around which I suggested could be put to good use.
jcr1 (893)
607695 2007-11-02 09:52:00 How "old" are these old computers? vinref (6194)
607696 2007-11-02 09:54:00 how do you connect to the internet? if you use an external adsl router then an extra external firewall is not any great advantage unless your running a caching proxy.

That does not make any sense.

Why would you suddenly need one when you have a caching proxy, yet not need one without?
vinref (6194)
607697 2007-11-02 17:31:00 How "old" are these old computers?

One about 386 vintage, the other would be probably (haven't really looked at it yet) no older than 6 years; it's an Arche machine.

I've glanced at some tutorials, on line, and some recommend a computer with reasonable specs, but most quite happily hint "almost anything will do".
I'm a bit sceptical about the last opinion.

Anyway, what I really want here, is people's opinions based on their experiences before I launch myself blindly into a project, that might not work.
jcr1 (893)
607698 2007-11-02 19:34:00 Asked around on IRC.. smoothwall will indeed run fine on an old computer (if all its doing is firewalling/routing) Myth (110)
607699 2007-11-02 19:42:00 Careful, an old PC used as a firewall will let a malicious power company in to steal more money off you :) PaulD (232)
607700 2007-11-02 19:46:00 Does anyone know if these software firewalls will allow PCI based ADSL modems to work in conjunction.

What I'm trying to do is get a Via Epia based motherboard, chuck in an ADSL modem, install a linux firewall of sorts, hook it up to a switch and make it my bi**h... I mean my own router.

Would that work?
bob_doe_nz (92)
607701 2007-11-02 19:48:00 Just be aware that there's a difference between "will run on just about anything" and running _well_. Hardware that's too old may have an impact on network throughput etc. if the software hasn't been properly optimised. somebody (208)
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