Dude!

Setting up a small home network at the moment and wondered (due to budget constraints) what pc I would need to run as just a firewall? May consider also using it as a mail server, but I am not sure if that would reqire much mure in the way of processing power?
Any thoughts greatfully recieved.

NotoriousREV

You don't need a mega spec, in the recent past I've built very good firewalls on a CPU of around 1Ghz using a minimal install of Red Hat and IP chains and I've used the same machine as mail server and http proxy. Very secure, works perfectly on a small network, but not exactly user friendly.

class_A

1GHz is overkill! A decent 486 will do. Have a look at the Firewall and Proxy Server HowTo.

And have a look at SmoothWall if you want something very easy to set up.

Dude!

Cheers people - I recon i can get my hands on a really cheap 700MHz so that should be cool

I have got a 486 but it's a SX 25 so its really only fit for the scrap heap (just cant be bothered to take it there!)

BTW - will be having a really good read of that site later class_a - thanks for that

DazV

Why bother setting up a PC as a firewall - just buy a little box called a SonicWall - silicon valley's finest!

Have a word with Jeff Wiltshire on here. He'll sort you out.

Chris L

Would have to agree. Sonicwall are great little boxes. I used to work for one of the first companies to import these. I've installed loads of them - very neat and effective.

For home use, you could get away with running a firewall on your main PC. Or the alternative would be to get a low spec PC - wipe it, install Linux and set this up with any number of linux based firewalls - effective and cheap.

Chris

Jeff Wiltshire

This ebay auction for a SonicWALL Soho3 maybe of interest (currently at £102) retail on a 10 user if £500.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...&category=3706