[TriLUG] Best appliance for Linux firewall?

[Sean Alexandre]

On Thu, Aug 08, 2013 at 09:57:07AM -0400, Brian Henning wrote:
> Hi Gang!
> 
> At home, pretty much all my services and stuff run on a single box, and that
> box is starting to collapse under the weight.  I'm ready to start divvying
> up functions across discrete devices.  First to go is the firewall; not a
> heavy-hitter, but easy to carve off.  So, what do people suggest as the best
> appliance-form-factor Linux computer?  Obviously 2+ NICs is the biggest
> priority.  

I've been experimenting with this. I haven't found my ideal setup yet, though.
Right now I'm running an Intel Atom box (2 cores) with 2 NICs on board, and
a PCI card with 2 more NICs (for a WAN, LAN, and DMZ.) It's more than powerful
enough, but consumes about 100w of power. I'd like to find something smaller,
that uses more like 30w (similar to a small home router.) 

Ideally I'd like to find a box that:
* Runs Debian with no binary blobs.
* Has 3 NICs
* Wireless
* Low power
* Low noise (no fans)

The MiraBox looks interesting, but I haven't looked at it too closely yet:
https://www.globalscaletechnologies.com/p-58-mirabox-development-kit.aspx

Specs are:
1.2Ghz Marvell Armada CPU ARMADA 370 ARM v7 compliant
802.11b/g/n Wifi with Marvell 88W8787 and Bluetooth 3.0
1GB DDR3
1 GB NAND Flash
2 each 10/100/1000 Ethernet Ports
2 each USB 3.0 host
1 microsd card slot/reader, 1 additional Mini PCIe slot for expansion (internal)

I'd want to know if the Marvell wireless runs without binary blobs. If not,
ThinkPenguin sells cards that run all free drivers:
https://www.thinkpenguin.com/catalog/wireless-networking-gnulinux