[TriLUG] Slightly OT: AOL Cable Broadband & Linux

[Joseph Tate]

But add the costs of running it to your power bill.  You might save 5-10 
bucks a month by running a "boxed edge router" rather than a dedicated 
Linux computer, even a PII.

Greg Brown wrote:

> I'd suggest just the opposite.  I have a linux based edge device 
> (router, iptables, blah) and it works great.  Having this in places 
> allows me to:
>
> 1. run iptables (which I really like as a firewall)
> 2. run a ssh server on the Internet side (most of the boxed edge 
> routers can forward ports, but it's just not as fun)
> 3. run a wide open sendmail server which allows forwarding (of course 
> only on the inside interface  - can't have an open sendmail server on 
> the Internet side).   This was your parents can send mail that looks 
> like it originates from AOL even though it might be coming from a 
> different domain.
> 4. run a web server (if you care to)
>
> There are other reasons why I like to have a edge linux device, but 
> these are the ones that come to mind first.  But it does add 
> complexity but, on the flip side, I think it would make remote 
> administration of the network a bit easier if you can ssh right into 
> the edge router from anywhere on the Internet.  And this can all run 
> on a P-II system.  It's quite possible you can get your hands on a 
> P-II Dell for less than a broadband router.
>
> Just my $.02.
>
> Greg
>
> On Monday, Jan 6, 2003, at 12:59 America/New_York, Jason Tower wrote:
>
>> as neat as it is to run a linux box as a router, it's probably not 
>> necessary
>> in this case.  just use a regular wireless router (take your pick, 
>> they are
>> all fairly similar) and set the VNC servers to listen on different 
>> ports so
>> you can do selective port forwarding at the router (forward port 5900 to
>> 192.168.0.2, 5901 to 192.168.0.3, and so on).  a few models have a 
>> parallel
>> port and print server built in as well.
>>
>> running a seperate linux router w/ iptables may give a little extra 
>> security,
>> but the added complexity is probably not worth the effort.  if 
>> security is a
>> concern, use a wireless router with a SPI firewall, that should be close
>> enough to an iptables solution.
>>
>> jason
>>
>> On Monday 06 January 2003 12:42, Andrew Perrin wrote:
>>
>>> Folks,
>>>
>>> My in-laws are moving into a new house in Carrboro, and they've 
>>> asked me
>>> to help with computer stuff. Their criteria are:
>>> - Keep their AOL addresses;
>>> - Let both of them be online at once;
>>> - Have three computers on two floors share the internet connection, 
>>> files,
>>>     and the printer
>>>
>>> My additional criterion is:
>>> - Do (some) administrative tasks remotely
>>>
>>>
>>> What I would like to do is very much like what I have at home: a cable
>>> modem into a cheap linux computer acting as a router with IPTables, 
>>> with
>>> a WAP providing wireless access to the three other computers, 
>>> probably all
>>> windows running VNC servers.
>>>
>>> Question for y'all: has anyone used AOL's cable broadband service w/
>>> linux? Any pitfalls I should beware of?
>>>
>>> Also: my plan is to use the linux box for the local routing both 
>>> because
>>> it's cool and because it will allow for some remote administration. Is
>>> that stupid, i.e., should I just buy an out-of-the-box broadband 
>>> router?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Andrew J Perrin - http://www.unc.edu/~aperrin
>>> Assistant Professor of Sociology, U of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
>>> clists at perrin.socsci.unc.edu * andrew_perrin (at) unc.edu
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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