[KLUG Members] question about Linux-based firewall/router/AP appliance

[Bruce Smith]

> > Why would you use a firewall distro that requires, a heat generating,
> > noise making, power sucking, high point of failure, hard drive?  :-)
> 
> I enjoy the ease of use that IPCop offers. Hey, I'm a Mac user, and I 
> like the nice web-based GUI that I get with IPCop. I see the merits of 
> Devil-Linux, but right now I just prefer IPCop.

You can't use the arrow keys instead of a mouse?  
I'd only expect that from a Windows user ...   ;-)

> also, I tend to have cooling fans burn out before hard drives do. And 
> when those go, usually significant chunks of the machine go with it... 
> When the HD/fan(s) finally burn out, i'll just spend >$10 on 
> replacement parts...

Get rid of those hard drives and you can cut back on cooling fans!  :-)

Hell, I know of people who have got rid of the CPU fan and Power Supply
fan on a under-clocked D-L box!!!

> > I don't use a wireless NIC (although I probably could), I just have 3
> > NIC's in my firewall, one to the internet, one to my wired LAN, and one
> > to my WAP.  That isolates my WAP from my wired LAN in case anyone 
> > breaks into my wireless they can't get to my desktops.
> 
> well, that's the same as I would have, 

And D-L comes with a sample firewall script that does just that.

> only I'd hope to eliminate the need for the WAP, 
> and just use a card in the firewall box as the AP. 

D-L comes with the wireless-tools package, so it will do the job.
(with a little extra screwing around)

> > http://www.devil-linux.org/
> 
> I was kinda expecting the Devil Linux sales pitch :)

Of course!  :-)

 - BS