Build your own Router - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 27th Jun 2008, 11:01

http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2008/06...r-own-router/1

It seems like lots of people have been picking up Linux love since our Build Your Own Server article. So this time, Ken's back to bring it one step further - making your own home network router. Buckle up and get ready to dive into the world of iptables!

fisken · 27th Jun 2008, 11:31

Nice one , but in the next , why not set it up for multiply external ip's, since more people have more than 1 ip.

Timmy_the_tortoise · 27th Jun 2008, 12:34

I wish I could understand this.. I really do.

WildThing · 27th Jun 2008, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy_the_tortoise

I wish I could understand this.. I really do.

+1

Yeah great article, never knew one could make one's own router! It's a shame about 99.9% of that stuff goes way over my head lol.

Bluephoenix · 27th Jun 2008, 12:54

Great Guide

I use this stuff a good deal, since I work with a large set of linux servers and don't want to have to shell out massive amounts of cash for nortel or cisco hardware.

there are a few more hurdles to use fibrechannel with this method, mostly getting it to like the transmission format the fibrechannel cards use.

here's a suggestion for bit. get ken on your staff, pay him and feed him pizza for more of this stuff faster.

the other thing that strikes me is how very well sectionalized and organized the whole article is, makes for very easy reference.

Woodstock · 27th Jun 2008, 12:57

damm i actually tried to get something similar working this morning (used brctl as i only needed a bridge) but it wasnt compatible with ppp0 (at mums, and its a geographic limitation). Starts thinking about ditching the flats router (crappy dlink thing)

TomH · 27th Jun 2008, 13:16

Interesting! More-so in the configuration than anything. I shall have a read later, but I thought I'd mention that I also decided to build my own router recently.

The thing's built, and I'm saving time by using m0n0wall, but I've not fully updated the article yet - still, someone may find it useful/interesting.

From the m0n0wall guidelines, however, I estimated that I should be able to gain about 280Mbits in both directions. That's not bad for the future.

theevilelephant · 27th Jun 2008, 13:26

fantastic article! i really enjoy reading them, it gives me an excuse to tinker with a few spare linux machines, this one is going to require some carefull reading though, i think i got about 10% on the first read through

Timmy_the_tortoise · 27th Jun 2008, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildThing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy_the_tortoise

I wish I could understand this.. I really do.

+1

Yeah great article, never knew one could make one's own router! It's a shame about 99.9% of that stuff goes way over my head lol.

Yeah, I assumed that the router itself (so far as what it consists of) was very much nothing to do with a PC...

But when I think about it.. I suppose it makes perfect sense that a PC/Server/whatever can route...

tuaamin13 · 27th Jun 2008, 15:18

What's the point of this? I can understand the concept but not the application. Are you supposed to add it to your existing machine/repurpose an old machine or build a new mini-ITX machine (one of those with multiple ports) instead of buying a new router?

Timmy_the_tortoise · 27th Jun 2008, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuaamin13

What's the point of this? I can understand the concept but not the application. Are you supposed to add it to your existing machine/repurpose an old machine or build a new mini-ITX machine (one of those with multiple ports) instead of buying a new router?

It's repurposing and old machine or building a new one from old parts.. Can you read, or not?

Valdisnei · 27th Jun 2008, 17:03

Great guide!
Love it...
I'm going to read everything after...

homebuild router + diy homeserver... = mod! =D

Jasio · 27th Jun 2008, 19:33

Heya,

Great guide! Just a quick note... if you prefer to NOT work with IP Tables but you still want the power and flexibility of IP Tables then I suggest downloading APF Firewall for Linux. APF is a front-end for IP Tables (hence, it's still IP Tables) but provides an easy to use shell based configuration file to setup your firewall. Additionally, APF includes brute-force and DoS protection which can be enabled/disabled in the config file. Of course, this is free software. I've used it for many years and it makes handling IP Tables far easier.

Cheers

Da Dego · 27th Jun 2008, 21:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasio

Heya,

Great guide! Just a quick note... if you prefer to NOT work with IP Tables but you still want the power and flexibility of IP Tables then I suggest downloading APF Firewall for Linux. APF is a front-end for IP Tables (hence, it's still IP Tables) but provides an easy to use shell based configuration file to setup your firewall. Additionally, APF includes brute-force and DoS protection which can be enabled/disabled in the config file. Of course, this is free software. I've used it for many years and it makes handling IP Tables far easier.

Cheers

Hey Jasio,

Yeah, there are some great options. Most of my sysadmin friends swear by Shorewall themselves, which is the same type of thing. For here, though, we were going for stripping away the training wheels and showing you what REALLY goes on under the hood. The more you know, the more secure your system will be and the better you can diagnose when something DOESN'T work right.

Rexxie · 27th Jun 2008, 22:09

For those wanting to set a PC up as a router, but don't want to go through the hassle of doing everything yourself, there are a number of really good options out there. m0n0wall (http://m0n0.ch/wall/) and pfsense (http://www.pfsense.com/) are good alternatives. m0n0wall is super-super lightweight and does the job really well, at least it does for me :-)

HowY · 27th Jun 2008, 22:11

Just had to offer a "Great job"

on this series of articles and a straight
up job with ipchains...

Cant wait for the whole series

Excellent Work!

--keep 'Em Coming

airchie · 28th Jun 2008, 02:32

Yep, +1 here for the 'good job' sentiments.
I'm loving the linux stuff on Bit now and I'm thinking there should be a seperate section entirely for Linux tbh.
Isn't Linux and it's flexibility/modifiability (is that even a word?

) like the software equivalent of building your own PC and tweaking/OCing it?

Anyway, keep 'em coming!!

DougEdey · 28th Jun 2008, 02:47

100% Agree with airchie!

woodshop · 28th Jun 2008, 04:00

I'll add my hardware recommendation.
pcengines ALIX2c3 board, i'm loving mine got it to run m0n0wall. eats a whoopee 18watts at most.

Woodstock · 28th Jun 2008, 05:39

hmmm decisions, to go with a embedded system or tack it on to the fileserver, seperate would probably be more secure, if you dont mind answering how much did you pay woodshop, that one looks awesome, wonder if there is one with integrated wireless. would it be difficult to have two internal interfaces (Ethernet and wireless)

27th Jun 2008, 11:01	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Build your own Router http://www.bit-tech.net/bits/2008/06...r-own-router/1 It seems like lots of people have been picking up Linux love since our Build Your Own Server article. So this time, Ken's back to bring it one step further - making your own home network router. Buckle up and get ready to dive into the world of iptables! __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

27th Jun 2008, 12:34	#3
Timmy_the_tortoise International Man of Awesome Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: County Durham, UK Posts: 964	I wish I could understand this.. I really do. __________________ Q6600 @ 2.40GHz w/G0\|Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R\|4GB OCZ Gold PC-6400 800MHz\|Powercolor Radeon HD4850\|Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB\|Scythe Ninja Mini\|LG Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVD-RW Combo Drive\|Corsair TX650W\|Antec NSK2480 Pioneer VSX-417\|2x Gale 3010\|2x Yamaha NSP110\| MS304W Centre \| MS308 Subwoofer

27th Jun 2008, 12:57	#6
Woodstock So Say We All Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,657	damm i actually tried to get something similar working this morning (used brctl as i only needed a bridge) but it wasnt compatible with ppp0 (at mums, and its a geographic limitation). Starts thinking about ditching the flats router (crappy dlink thing) __________________ Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun.

27th Jun 2008, 13:16	#7
TomH Bwahahahahaha Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Salford Posts: 609	Interesting! More-so in the configuration than anything. I shall have a read later, but I thought I'd mention that I also decided to build my own router recently. The thing's built, and I'm saving time by using m0n0wall, but I've not fully updated the article yet - still, someone may find it useful/interesting. From the m0n0wall guidelines, however, I estimated that I should be able to gain about 280Mbits in both directions. That's not bad for the future. __________________ Blog: full of inspirational geekism. Maybe. StaffsLUG: Linux users group, Staffordshire.

27th Jun 2008, 17:03	#12
Valdisnei Can i haz a dremelz!? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: right behind my linksys Posts: 41	Great guide! Love it... I'm going to read everything after... homebuild router + diy homeserver... = mod! =D __________________ Me and my sker english Q66@3,0GHz \| P5Q DLX\| 1,5TB \| XMS2 675MHz@900MHz \| XFX HD4770... ASUS 1000HA and a Canon S5-IS

27th Jun 2008, 11:31	#2
fisken What's a Dremel? Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1	Nice one , but in the next , why not set it up for multiply external ip's, since more people have more than 1 ip.

27th Jun 2008, 12:54	#5
Bluephoenix Spoon? What spoon? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 936	Great Guide I use this stuff a good deal, since I work with a large set of linux servers and don't want to have to shell out massive amounts of cash for nortel or cisco hardware. there are a few more hurdles to use fibrechannel with this method, mostly getting it to like the transmission format the fibrechannel cards use. here's a suggestion for bit. get ken on your staff, pay him and feed him pizza for more of this stuff faster. the other thing that strikes me is how very well sectionalized and organized the whole article is, makes for very easy reference.

27th Jun 2008, 13:26	#8
theevilelephant Bit-tech's Heffalump Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Aberystwyth Posts: 797	fantastic article! i really enjoy reading them, it gives me an excuse to tinker with a few spare linux machines, this one is going to require some carefull reading though, i think i got about 10% on the first read through

27th Jun 2008, 15:18	#10
tuaamin13 Minimodder Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 32	What's the point of this? I can understand the concept but not the application. Are you supposed to add it to your existing machine/repurpose an old machine or build a new mini-ITX machine (one of those with multiple ports) instead of buying a new router?

27th Jun 2008, 19:33	#13
Jasio Made in Canada Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: BC Posts: 452	Heya, Great guide! Just a quick note... if you prefer to NOT work with IP Tables but you still want the power and flexibility of IP Tables then I suggest downloading APF Firewall for Linux. APF is a front-end for IP Tables (hence, it's still IP Tables) but provides an easy to use shell based configuration file to setup your firewall. Additionally, APF includes brute-force and DoS protection which can be enabled/disabled in the config file. Of course, this is free software. I've used it for many years and it makes handling IP Tables far easier. Cheers __________________ [[Asus P6T \| Intel Core i7 920 @ 2.67Ghz cooled by Noctua UH-P12 Push-Pull Config \| 6GB DDR3-1600 Patriot Viper Xtreme XMP C8 \| nVidia GeForce 280 GTX 1GB \| Corsair HX620 620 Watt PSU \| Antec P182 Case]]

27th Jun 2008, 22:09	#15
Rexxie Multimodder Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Norway Posts: 197	For those wanting to set a PC up as a router, but don't want to go through the hassle of doing everything yourself, there are a number of really good options out there. m0n0wall (http://m0n0.ch/wall/) and pfsense (http://www.pfsense.com/) are good alternatives. m0n0wall is super-super lightweight and does the job really well, at least it does for me :-) __________________ - Rexxie Sanity is a full time job.

27th Jun 2008, 22:11	#16
HowY Multimodder Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 110	Excellent Series Just had to offer a "Great job" on this series of articles and a straight up job with ipchains... Cant wait for the whole series Excellent Work! --keep 'Em Coming

28th Jun 2008, 02:47	#18
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	100% Agree with airchie! __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

28th Jun 2008, 04:00	#19
woodshop UnSeenly Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Depths Of Hades Posts: 1,381	I'll add my hardware recommendation. pcengines ALIX2c3 board, i'm loving mine got it to run m0n0wall. eats a whoopee 18watts at most.

28th Jun 2008, 05:39	#20
Woodstock So Say We All Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,657	hmmm decisions, to go with a embedded system or tack it on to the fileserver, seperate would probably be more secure, if you dont mind answering how much did you pay woodshop, that one looks awesome, wonder if there is one with integrated wireless. would it be difficult to have two internal interfaces (Ethernet and wireless) __________________ Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun.