I'm thinking of putting together a mini-itx system (with a low end epia board) running either Smoothwall or IPcop. I have an ADSL connection which is shared by a 4 port modem router at the moment. With the new ITX setup can I make use of this existing hardware or should I get a new external ADSL modem and a switch (or could it just be a hub, I get confused between the two) then hook it all up with 2 lan connections? Or could I just get a PCI ADSL modem, put that in the system and do away with an external modem all together? Hope that makes sense...
Reusing the kit shouldnt be a problem. it just depends where you want to reuse it. you could configure it as a bridge and just use it to present your public IP to the mITX system or you could use something else to handle the adsl connection into the system and then just use the switch part of the router to connect your internal devices. J
I woud suggest keeping the external if possible, as linux support for a fair amount of those pci DSL cards is very small from what I have seen. basicly you just need 2 ethernet connections on for the system, one incoming from the dsl modem and one going to a switch ( or hub, your choice), which then connects to the other computers. I will go into more detail as the diff between a switch and hub now since it seems you might be a little unsure about the two. A switch is a smart device that works with the hardware (AKA MAC) addresses, and does very low level routing of the packets as they pass through. this helps with bandwidth as it keeps traffic organized, as well as security, keeping some one else from sniffing the traffic. Now a Hub is a much simpler device, that simple recives data on one port, and rebroadcasts (and maybe cleans) the signal it recieves on all the other ports. This means every one shares all the traffic, and bandwidth.
Cheers guys! So a hub will be slightly slower than a switch... I doubt this'd make much difference with 2 or 3 PCs though? Jake - how can I reuse the adsl modem \ router combo in the setup? I could just use one of the 4 ports on the modem \ router to go into the smoothwall box without any problems?
Yep you should be able to use the adsl router fine, might want to disable dhcp on the router and have it enabled on the smoothie tho. [EDIT]: If you can, try getting hold of an old machine from someone, Smoothie needs a minimum of something like a 486 to run. It's much, much cheaper to try find an old machine [maybe even free?] to run it on. Unless of course youre wanting to get a funky case for the mitx mobo and making it look half decent!
Thanks! I won't bother with a new modem then I fancied getting a swanky new box but I have a couple of old machines lying around that I stumbled upon lastnight, one is an early matx p3 500 I think the other is really old and I'm not sure if it works but I'll give them a go... Darn it I almost keep convincing myself I need an ITX system