linux router on a CD

[foshizzle]

Is there a linux router that can boot from a CD(like Knoppix)?

I'm looking for something that has a gui, or a web based interface(like most hardware routers). Preferably, it can store all the settings and stuff onto a floppy.

The reason I'm looking for these features in particular, is that I have a PII 266 MHz, Packard Bell comp, that's running great, even with the heatsink/fan held on with scotch tape. The only problem with it is that the hard drive is dying. When it dies I would like to still be able to use the comp, without spending any money, and a router is the only thing I can think of.

I've heard of floppy based routers, but I'm not sure if they can have any type of gui interface. I'm looking for something like http://www.ipcop.org but I think that it needs to work off of a hard drive.

 

[wlee]

I haven't seen any that could run entirely from CDROM. ( still need swap space ) Drives are pretty cheap these days. Why not look for a "cheap" on in Hot Deals or For Sale/Trade forum ? Anyway, you might have a look at these 2 LINUX Firewall apps as well. Both have freeware and commercial vers. SmoothWall Astaro

 

[foshizzle]

Well, I'm pretty sure there are versions that run from a floppy that don't need a hard drive, but I don't think any of them have any sort of gui. And I don't want to stick a $40 hard drive in a computer that isn't worth that much. If I were to buy a hard drive I would have much better uses for it.

And as for the swap, check out knppix, full featured linux OS, runs off a CD, no need for a hard drive. I just don't know if anyone's made a stripped versoin of it that can function as a router.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: foshizzle
Well, I'm pretty sure there are versions that run from a floppy that don't need a hard drive, but I don't think any of them have any sort of gui. And I don't want to stick a $40 hard drive in a computer that isn't worth that much. If I were to buy a hard drive I would have much better uses for it.

And as for the swap, check out knppix, full featured linux OS, runs off a CD, no need for a hard drive. I just don't know if anyone's made a stripped versoin of it that can function as a router.

If someone was going to build one that might be the place to start. Make a few module additions, maybe strip the gui, add webmin (if it can do firewalling config stuff), rebuild iso, burn, boot...

 

[osage]

yes, you can check out devil-Linux. it will do just what you want, boot from CD rom, and save config to a floppy. Pretty nice setup actually

 

[foshizzle]

I glanced over devil-linux, and you're right, I think that's exactly what I'm looking for, I'll try it out when I get a chance.

Thanks

 

[foshizzle]

osage, I haven't gotten a chance to try devil-linux yet, but I skimmed through the docs. It seems that it's what I'm looking for, except that I didn't see anything about a gui. Did I just miss it, or is text based the only interface for it.

Is there anything in windows xp that can do this(that would be a sort of last resort, for obvious reasons)

 

[n0cmonkey]

Devil-linux looks like it supports Firewall builder. If you want to make your own version of Devil-linux, it looks like it has information on it there on the site. Check out webmin, it might have the modules you need for firewall administration.

 

[foshizzle]

I'd like to use a ready to go package, since I don't know linux too well. I'm starting to think that there isn't anything out there that's gonna be able to what I'm looking for, without me having to put in a bunch of time into it.

 

[dpain]

I would learn more about it before I were to implement it. Just my 2 cents. Linux is great, but any system can be penetrated if it is not properly set up. Knowledge is power.

Dpain

 

[osage]

BBI Agent is a floppy based router that works very well, I have used it on a Packard Bell P75 and P120 machine with as little as 8mb of ram.
It has a nice web interface for setup and admin, but the newer version of it has some of the feaures disabled unless you register ie: pay for it as I recall . You should check it out as I have not used the newer versions after about 1.5, no need to as 1.4 and 1.5 work very well indeed.

take a look

 

[foshizzle]

I'm not worried abuot security a whole lot, I just want to be able to do a little more than I can with my hardware router. I want to be able to set it up quickly, and learn about little by little AFTER it''s running, it's no fun to do it before

 

[skyking]

the command line stuff to change settings in a router box are not too bad, really.
Forwarding ports, edit natd.conf. It looks like this:
redirect_port tcp 192.168.0.24:1863 1863
Opening ports in the firewall, edit rc.firewall.dynip. It looks like this:
${fwcmd} add allow log tcp from any 6500 to any via ${oif}
${fwcmd} add allow log udp from any 6500 to any via ${oif}
This is in freebsd, but the idea is very similar in the other OS's. In each case, there are examples in the default config file to help you along.

When you select "will this box be used as a gateway?" in the initial setup, dhcp for both the client side and the server side are enabled, so there is very little to do there. You will need to know your ISP's DNS servers, and put those entries in.