Running internet through a computer and then to a router?

[integramodder]

So my router's performance has been lackluster lately. Its an E3000 with DDWRT on it. I've gotten something like 8 down through the router, remove router and go straight through to modem and get 32 down.


Wondering how hard it would be to run my connection through my server. I would need to find software to mimmic the functionality of a router like port forwarding etc.

I'm also looking into the Kong distribution of ddwrt firmware as they say performance is better.

 

[Fardringle]

This seems to be a fairly common problem with the E3000. Many people have reported dramatically increased speed when they disable uPNP and/or QOS on the router. You CAN run a server operating system as a router, but I'd try to get the actual router working first.

 

[integramodder]

This seems to be a fairly common problem with the E3000. Many people have reported dramatically increased speed when they disable uPNP and/or QOS on the router. You CAN run a server operating system as a router, but I'd try to get the actual router working first.

Yea, I'll do some searching on that the next time i get some free time...

 

[kornphlake]

It's not terribly difficult to setup a server as a router depending on what you want to do. You'll need 2 network cards one for LAN traffic and one for WAN traffic. You'll need to install and configure a dhcp server and a firewall at a bare minimum, a proxy server might be useful depending on your needs.

 

[JackMDS]

Try E3000 with its stock firmware.

 

[imagoon]

In the long run it is better to just get a router that works at the speeds you need. (or configure it properly as what seems to be noted here)

Yes you can get a linux open router or RRAS to work but they generally need to be dedicated devices. For example Windows 2008 R2 technically doesnt support RRAS on a DC so if you want to do DC work you are automatically reduced to a nonstandard, potential security nightmare set up. Linux is similar. You have to know what to open and close to keep someone remotely wrecking X11 or SSH or whatever flavor hack of the month is. Reducing your exposure normally equals "just not installing those apps [packages]"

That said I ran Linux as a router for several years and it did it fine. Ended up hacked via a 0 day exploit but I had built it in such a way that I could just lift the /etc directory and rebuilt it quickly.

 

[integramodder]

Try E3000 with its stock firmware.

Stock firmware doesnt have the features I need.

 

[integramodder]

It's not terribly difficult to setup a server as a router depending on what you want to do. You'll need 2 network cards one for LAN traffic and one for WAN traffic. You'll need to install and configure a dhcp server and a firewall at a bare minimum, a proxy server might be useful depending on your needs.

I've got that piece covered. Do you know of any places to get more info on how to do this?

 

[kornphlake]

I've got that piece covered. Do you know of any places to get more info on how to do this?

uh, the internet?

Pick an OS and start searching. I'd encourage you to try Linux, not only because it's free (gratis,) but because there are hundreds of wikis, blogs and forum posts on how to configure a linux server as a firewall/router. I've never tried building a machine for this task based on a windows server platform, but I doubt the information is as readily available. I believe there are a few distros that are mostly configured for this task out of the box, Smoothwall comes to mind.

 

[Geofram]

I've got that piece covered. Do you know of any places to get more info on how to do this?

Smoothwall. Astaro. Untangle. pfsense.

All of these are free (for home use) software that will function as a router, as well as many other advanced options.

 

[piasabird]

Cant you connect the server to the DMZ from behind the Router? I thought this would exclude one device from the filtering. Maybe you already tried this.

Dont you just connect two LAN cards and have 2 network groups. Linux might work better for this. Might take some tinkering to figure it out.

Or maybe you need one router with more features.