Looking for the best custom router software for my needs.


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Hi guys, I am currently using the Linksys E3000 (dd-wrt) as my gateway in my home. And I would like to upgrade my network by building my own router. Basicly what I am looking for is these :-

  • Easy to use & configure software.
  • Stable.
  • Constant updates (I think pfsense dont have this, please correct me).
  • DHCP.
  • DNS server.
  • Firewall. (easy to open ports for bittorrent & gamming. I may open UPNP for this)
  • Great with gamming (ex. WOW, Counter-strike & XBOX 360).
  • PPPoE to connect with the ISP network.

Optional Stuff:-

  • Build-in AV.
  • Build-in Catch.

My old machine that I want to use as a router is :-

  • Intel Core2Duo E8200
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 320 GB.

I know that this machine is an over kill for a router but this is what I have and I have no use for it.

Please advise me and thank you in advace.

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"Constant updates (I think pfsense dont have this, please correct me)."

Why do you think this is a requirement? If there are no bugs reported, what do you feel should be in a router update?

If you want to run development with changes all the time - then run the current 2.1 release of pfsense - there are snap images daily if not twice a day, along with you can always run a gitsync to any of the committed changes they do. Sometimes multiple a day, sometimes nothing. You can follow along with what the changes are on github if you so desire, etc.

Not sure what this is?

"Build-in Catch"

But I can tell you for sure your going to be more than happy with pfsense! And yeah your box is way overkill for it - but gives you plenty of room for adding packages like squid and snort and or ntop, etc.

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Build a router using a pc ? Are you trying to build something like a Forefront TMG secure gateway ?

You could offload some of the above to some cisco gear.

Edit- oh pppoe I thought he ment using some sangoma pci adsl modem

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There are plenty of linux distros that are geared as router/firewall - you can turn any pc hardware into your router/firewall.

Off the top ipcop, m0n0wall, smoothwall, pfsense, untangle, clearos - way more than just router/firewall, full blown solution as router/gateway/firewall/fileserver/emailserver/ldap/av/etc, etc.. etc..

There are many many more - this was just some of the ones I have played with an some of the major players in the market.

With that amount of cpu you could prob even setup esxi on that and run your router in VM, I run my current pfsense on N40L - bumped it up to 8GB ram and run 4 24/7/365 vms off of it - router, nas, test workstation, ubuntu server use as shell box, etc.

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I tend to roll my own routers/firewalls (custom flash images of OpenBSD)... but I would say pfsense would be a good starting point I was going to run something that was "off the shelf" so to speak. That said, you didn't mention what type of network cards this machine has, so be aware of any driver pitfalls.

Network/Routing devices don't need constant updates... if they are operating properly, then the only thing you need to keep up on would be any potential security issues. Of course if you are running UPNP internally, then the security angle is somewhat moot, as I would consider UPNP a security risk inherently by design. I also don't subscribe to the whole "run everything on a single server" concept... your outward facing firewall/router should run the most minimal set of services to meet your needs... this definately lowers your security exposure, and tends to be more reliable in the long term.

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