[CLUE-Tech] AT&T@home and Linux Network

[Tim Russell]

Yep - you can specify individual TCP and UDP ports to be sent to
internal clients, as well as one internal machine to be a "DMZ" machine
- this isn't documented too well, and I haven't experimented much with
it yet, but I suspect the box just forwards anything it doesn't have a
specific rule for to the given machine and sees if it answers.

I agree, if you have an old machine laying around and want to play with
it and leave it up 24/7, Linux is great and you'll learn a lot.  But for
a novice (and no offense, but asking the previous question would qualify
someone as a novice in my book, nothing wrong at all with that!) the
Linksys boxes, at less than $100 and using less power, as well as being
more secure if the Linux box isn't set up properly, fit the bill too.

I'd certainly never discourage anyone from setting up a Linux box to do
the job, because they'll learn a lot and it will be rewarding, as well
as quite a bit more flexible than an appliance.  But on the other hand,
we've all seen the dark side of misconfigured Linux machines hanging off
@Home connections (as well as Wingate machines!).  Red Hat has helped a
lot with 7.1 being TONS more secure by default, thankfully.  That was a
major pet peeve of mine with previous versions.  I think for some people
playing with the Linux machine on the inside network is a better idea.
There's still plenty to learn!

Tim

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joshua M. McClain [mailto:tartan at mindspring.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 15:32
> To: clue-tech at clue.denver.co.us
> Subject: Re: [CLUE-Tech] AT&T at home and Linux Network
> 
> 
> Tim, can the Linksys box provide port redirection from 
> external sources to
> internal clients?  I know the D-Link does, and quite well.  
> But if there's
> an old 486 lying around, why spend the coin on a new box?, 
> when ipchains
> should be more than anyone should ever need at home.  Plus, 
> the experience
> of running a firewall.  My $0.02.
> 
> You are correct, though -- a small appliance would consume 
> less juice (and
> generate much less heat) than another computer.
> 
> Josh McClain
> 92 ST185
> 88 ST162
> 95 VZN130
> Bailey, CO
> tartan at mindspring.com
> 
> > If you leave your Linux box on all the time, this works 
> great, after you
> > do some setup.  If you want something a bit less 
> power-hungry you might
> > consider a Linksys or similar firewall appliance.  I have one with a
> > built-in Wireless Access Point and it works very well and 
> includes the
> > DHCP server.
> 
> 
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