Os for using pc as router

[Ajelvani]

I need a way to use an old pc with 4 nic's as a router. Basically, i have my main router which is a netgear and i also have 2 servers. I want the servers to be separate from the home network and also have 2 usb hard drives attached separate from the home network. On the pc, i will have one nic act as a wan and have an ethernet cable from the main router to the pc. Then the other 3 nic cards will be lan ports. What OS can i easily do this with? I tried using pfsense but when i connect a computer the lan it wouldn't detect it. Are their any simpler OS's i can do this with?

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Moved from the OS' Forum.
JackMDS Mod.

 

[Ramses]

PFSense is really good once you get the hang of it.
IpCop and Smoothwall used to be pretty good if they are still around, and more friendly.

 

[mxnerd]

How to configure pfsense to use LAN ports as local switched ports?

http://serverfault.com/questions/37...ense-to-use-lan-ports-as-local-switched-ports

https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=48947.0

https://www.all4os.com/router/bridge-multiple-lan-portsnics-to-act-like-a-router-in-pfsense-2-1.html

 

[Ajelvani]

The problem is that i dont know how to access the web gui of pf sense

 

[quikah]

Why not just get 2nd router? There are plenty of dirt cheap routers that are DD-WRT compatible.

 

[Ajelvani]

True but i already have a pc and network cards so i thought why not

 

[mxnerd]

The problem is that i dont know how to access the web gui of pf sense

Actually you need a switch, not another router. using 2 routers and cascading them creates a double NAT. It's a no-no.

If you want servers on another subnet, you should put pfSense in front of your existing WiFi router and make your WiFi router an AP (access Point). Create optional LANs on pfSense and put servers there if you want.

Search youtube for tutorials.

 

[Ajelvani]

Realy? I actually thought of just buying a cheap gigabit ethernet router and use this pc as a nas. Becuase i don't think my current router can handle all this stress from the servers and all wireless devices. Whats wrong with connecting a second router to the main router

 

[mxnerd]

double nat issues

https://www.google.com/search?q=double+nat+issues&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

[SimMike2]

Switches are cheap and they are pretty reliable. I run all my network hardwired stuff to the switch and connect this to the router. I think I paide $20 for a gigabyte switch.

 

[Ajelvani]

But i also want my server stuff to not show up on the local network but still have access to the internet. How would i do this then? The only thing i can think of is getting a second router

 

[Iron Woode]

http://www.freesco.org/

works great if you use a switch rather than several nics.

 

[mxnerd]

first choose public network for the server

then configure like this

 

[Ajelvani]

Yes but i also need to be able to access via remote desktop.

 

[mxnerd]

Google Remote Desktop Firewall and port forwarding. You can't keep asking.

Try to consult Google & Youtube & Microsoft websites.

 

[Madwand1]

OP, you're probably better off sticking with a conventional router -- it's not clear what a PC-based router would give you other than technical headaches.

But to add to the list of such routers which may be of use in general:

https://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-utm-home-edition.aspx

 

[sdifox]

You need to configure multiple subnet to do what you want to do

http://www.google.ca/url?q=https://...YP44Cg&usg=AFQjCNH_HOXaF1u9dvLOMp-HP4xGZRbwoQ