[ILUG] ADSL, routers and firewalls

[Con Hennessy]

Hi Brian,

Brian O'Donoghue Brian.ODonoghue at kbs.ie wrote :
> No you don't need a router.
> 
> You need a linux box with two nics.
I guess that this would change if I had another computer ( i.e. now I'm talking
about 3 computers ) to make a "real" lan. In this case I would need a router
just so the 3 computers can talk to each other ? But I guess the firewalling
and NATing can still be performed on the linux box ?

>
> From here you will run nat point to point over Ethernet and make firewalling rules.
> 
> Take some old p1 that is doing nothing in your house/office and turn it into
> your firewall router.
[Un]fortunately I don't have an old machine around the place :-)

> You could even get the alcatel usb modem for this.
Is there any performance difference between a USB version and an ethernet version
of the modems ?

> The hard part will be convincing eircom that you really do want to buy the
> usb modem on a package that eircom will try it's damndest to sell you
> router/firewalls for.
I only really need the cheapest(hah!) adsl option - this is the one with 512kb
download and a 3GB cap. Therefore if/when they come to install it they will only
see 1 computer i.e. not need for firewalls from their perspective as I will already
have it on my one machine.

> Par example kbs solutions where I work.
> 
> We have the uncapped package, but we are using the Alcatel Speedtouch 350i
> purely as a dsl modem.
>
> The linux box on the lan takes care of the pppoe,nat,firewalling, port
> forwarding of certain ports and running of the mailserver, which Slackware
> 8.0 does quite well for us.
> 
> This is irrelevant to you though.
> You should be able to set up a pppoe/nat/firewall with one of the modems
> from the 'basic' package... ie the usb modem or the 'single port' Ethernet
> modem.... 
Great - this is what I'm hoping.

> The lug or just me,myself and I can help you set this up
Thanks for the offer - I'm sure that I'll be back with some questions.

Have a good w/e,
Con Hennessy