[nzlug] Appliance like device with 2 or more ethernet ports

[Hadley Rich]

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:24:31 Steven Ellis wrote:
> I have an IPCop firewall and I really like it, except for one thing. It
> uses too much power.
>
> I'd really like an appliance style device with 2 or more ethernet  ports
> that can run IPcop. The various Linux based routers in general don't
> offer enough functionality like squid etc. There is almost enough grunt
> in some if they just had more Ram.
>
> I've looked at EPIA / miniITX type devices but they are relatively
> expensive by the time you do MB + RAM + CASE + PSU etc.
>
> Anyone seen a cost effective solution in this space?

I went through the same thing not so long ago. I was using an old beige box 
with IPCop and a couple of slightly newer beige boxes as local servers. Like 
you I decided they were using too much power for my liking.

For the router/firewall/wireless AP I settled on a Linksys WRT54G running 
DD-WRT. The main reason for this was price and low power. It can't do squid 
or advanced stuff but works sufficiently for our home/office network here. 
You can always run a proxy on your desktop if you really need it.

I've since replaced the old servers with faster and lower powered Mini-ITX 
boxes too. I know have three and I'm really happy with them.

If I had the need then I'd use a Soekris box as a more advanced router 
although by the time you get them over here they aren't particularly cheap.

hads
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