Linux Box as ADSL Modem/Router/Wireless Router

[Spielo]

Hello all,

I've had a poke around google, but I could do with some fist hand advice :) Also, hope this is in the right section (server), it won't be a web server, but it won't really be a client either :)

Long story short, two of my housemates are bittorrent ######, and our Netgear DG834G just can't cope with the amount of packets they expect it to deal with, so I'm looking into running a Linux box to replace it. Ideally, I want a machine with an internal ADSL2 Modem that can route the connection to all the devices in our house (Many Windows PCs, a couple of Macs, a DS Lite, a PSP, a PocketPC, a couple of Xboxes, a 360, and a Wii or two soon). I'd like to be able to use QoS so that the bittorrent use is of minimum priority and web/email/etc always works without me having to constantly march into their rooms and limit their torrent clients... I'd most likely quite like to use the machine as a File Server as well, perhaps using NAS. If it's possible to plug a PCI WiFi card into it and use it as a Wireless Router as well, that'd be nice.

I'm not close to being a Linux expert, but I have had a reasonable amount of experience with it... I know very little about this sort of Networking in general though. My preferred distro for Linux is Ubuntu, but if it's not really suitable for this sort of use, then I'm open to suggestions.

Any advice greatly appreciated, even if it's just a link to a decent guide on the matter. :)

[Kasandoro]

Look into both ClarkConnect and Smoothwall...I personally use ClarkConnect, and have for some time now (several years). It's more of a "does-it-all" type of server product, though...with internet content filtering and windows file sharing...both of which can be disabled.

http://www.clarkconnect.com

[+BudMan MVC]

CC is a bit more than just a router/firewall -- its a all in 1 type solution, file server, email, etc.. etc.. Smoothwall might be more what your looking for.. But there is also IPcop, and or m0n0wall -- pfsense just went 1.0 http://www.pfsense.com/

All of those distros should be able to provide the features you are looking for.. IPcop is my fav -- try them all, and choose the one you like.

[filter04]

is there a way to use ubuntu to do the same thing?

what kind of programs, rather than distros would i need to look for?

Cheers.

filter04.

[Clinteger]

Yes, there is. Those are basically just customised linux distros so that you don't have to get all of the packages and download them manually -- they are also built for that specific function, not just as a universal server distro that has things like mail servers and stuff, which you probably don't need.

Clint

[+BudMan MVC]

As clint already stated - yes it is quite possible to use Ubuntu as your firewall/router/proxy/monitor/etc.., and if you have the time and skill you could setup Ubuntu to provide all of the functions that every firewall distro out there provides, etc.. Shoot even more -- hey while your at it, you could have your own offshoot of Ubuntu like Kubuntu, or Xubuntu designed as a router distro ;)

Do you really want to spend the time and effort? If so - have FUN! your users should be on the net, and you will be filtering and monitoring them in no time ;)

Or you could pick a distro where the VAST majority of the grunt work has already been done, ie IPcop, m0n0wall, smoothwall, pfsense, CC, SME, etc.. etc..

And have all the features you want right out of the box, maybe even tweak them a bit to suit your needs even more.. If your really into it - you could join the development team for whatever distro you choose - and get them to switch over to Ubuntu, etc.. ;)

edit: you do understand that Ubuntu is built on Debian.. Its not a flavor of linux in its own right, but just a spinoff, etc.. There is not a lot of reason to get your self all hung up on a specific distro. Look for the one that has gone in the directions you want your distro to go in, and use that one.. Better yet - find one that is close - and help the developers tweak it to your perfect distro..

Edited October 21, 2006 by BudMan

[filter04]

meh, i want to use ubuntu. i don't want a distro that is purposely built as a firewall/router/monitor, because i'm not going to learn much if it's all done for me.

So yes, i do want to spend the time and effort.

but cheers for your cynical opinion ;)

[AMDMEFX-55]

I know this might not help but I was in the same boat kinda. I have a lan of 20+ computers on 2 dsl lines. I just got comcast for my systems and sovled alot. But I don't know about your case if you can get another dsl/cable connection.

[+BudMan MVC]

  filter04 said:

because i'm not going to learn much if it's all done for me.

Ah so your in it for the learning exp ;) Why did you not say so - since if you just grab Ubuntu and install packages -- what are you going to really learn.. I mean come on, they have done the VAST majority of the work for you already.. ;)

Here this is what your after..

http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

Since you have your heart set on using Ubuntu as a router.. It was tuff, had to search for hours and hours to find this ;)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=119787

HOWTO-Ubuntu internet router, Firewall,DHCP,DNS,NAT

Or was it the first hit on a google http://www.google.com/search?q=ubuntu+router ;)

Edited October 21, 2006 by BudMan

[filter04]

why are you still being a smartass?

i'm sorry, i wasn't after your google links, because, just as you noted, they're not hard to find myself.

i was after a first hand opinion of what people use on their linux boxes, specifically ubuntu, to route traffic, etc.

why do so many threads have to descend into a bunch of cynical replies nowadays?

shame.

[+BudMan MVC]

Why do people think they can hijack someone else's thread.. Go off on a tangent topic, and have the right to complain when they don't get the "exact" type of answer they wanted?

You asked "is there a way to use ubuntu to do the same thing?" You were told yes, you were pointed to a GUIDE that walks you through how to do exactly what you ask.. It kind of lists "programs" you will need.. dhcp server, iptables, etc..

What else do you want?? If you want to talk in depth about using Ubuntu as a router -- maybe the Ubuntu forums would be a better place.. Lots of Ubuntu users over there I hear ;) Or atleast start your own thread -- then you might have some place to complain when you don't get the answers you were looking for.

Last I looked the topic of this thread was "Linux Box as ADSL Modem/Router/Wireless Router" Not

"What programs do I need to run Ubuntu as a Router - and don't bother linking to guides on the subject, even if they might list the software needed to do what I am after.. And don't make any smartass remarks while your at it - just give me the info I'm after or STFU" ;)