Build A Router Questions.

[ParMan]

I was looking in to Smoothwall today because i want to build this. I noticed that they you can run Smoothwall as a virtual machine. Could you actually use your wall virtual server and just add Smoothwall to it and run a router inside of it? I'm just curious I'm new but very interested to the virtual world. I just don't understand it 100% and i never have time to just sit and read anymore.

Anyways i loved the episode i really enjoyed how you showed a complete walk though. I'm interested in knowing where you purchases all your materials for this job. Also i wouldn't be able to use the motherboard that you used. i would need a wifi to make my wife happy. i saw this board though i didn't know if it was any good "Zotac H55-ITX-WiFi Socket LGA1156 Mini-ITX Motherboard"

I know that you were talking about using two boards one with wifi pci slot i just didn't know if that would be cheaper.

edit

i think i will get this card. what do you guys think

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813153150&Tpk=mini%20itx%20motherboard%2fcpu%20combo

Edited June 17, 2010 by ParMan

[VaKo]

Yeah, its actually quite easy. You simply install an ESXi server with at least 2 interfaces, the create 2 vSwitches, each with 1 NIC assigned (vSwitch2 can nay should have multiple physical NICs). Create your VM, then assign 1 vNIC to vSwitch1 and the 2nd to vSwitch2. Then plug in a cable/DSL modem into the NIC assigned to vSwitch1 and setup your virtual router, then you can plug a switch into the NICs assigned to vSwitch2.

Edit:

Check out this (1, 2) if you want to do a physical system. Cheaper, cooler, quieter, smaller.

[ParMan]

i think i will stick with the mini itx i do agree with all of your points but i think i would have more fun building this.

but my question is would this 2-Slot PCI Expansion Riser Card

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.21208

work with this motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121398&cm_re=mini_itx_motherboard%2fcpu_combo-_-13-121-398-_-Product

cuz this i could just add a wifi card and another nic.

[VaKo]

Your funeral lol, the board I linked to has 3 NICs and a miniPCI slot. As for the kit you highlighted, no idea. You should probably find a embedded systems specialist to buy from, as they will have more of an idea what works with what (via kit can be a bit odd sometimes).

[gEEEk]

Well, I quickly scanned through the hardware compability list at Smoothwalls website and it seems no Wifi-NICs are supported. You could set up a separate access point though, but that might bottleneck the setup.. : /

[3TeK]

pfsense supports some wifi cards, might check out RouterOS..if its a Atheros chipset it should work.

[ParMan]

pfsense supports some wifi cards, might check out RouterOS..if its a Atheros chipset it should work.

so this card should work with pfsense

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127219

[VaKo]

Best to ask on the PFSense forums about specific bits of hardware, they do maintain a HCL however.

[barry99705]

Well, I quickly scanned through the hardware compability list at Smoothwalls website and it seems no Wifi-NICs are supported. You could set up a separate access point though, but that might bottleneck the setup.. : /

My smoothwall system has three nics. One for wan, one for lan, and one for wifi. All the wifi access points attach to the wifi network. This keeps them separate from the lan, just incase someone wins the lottery and gets my wpa2 password. This can also be done in vmware, though you'll need a fourth network card. Personally I don't trust firewalls on vmware. I like having a separate box that just does the firewall function.

[ParMan]

My smoothwall system has three nics. One for wan, one for lan, and one for wifi. All the wifi access points attach to the wifi network. This keeps them separate from the lan, just incase someone wins the lottery and gets my wpa2 password. This can also be done in vmware, though you'll need a fourth network card. Personally I don't trust firewalls on vmware. I like having a separate box that just does the firewall function.

all i know is im getting annoyed with it. =) its just a pain in the *$* to find if the hardware is compatible.

i am also still trying to figure out if any wifi cards are compatible.

Edited June 22, 2010 by ParMan

[barry99705]

all i know is im getting annoyed with it. =) its just a pain in the *$* to find if the hardware is compatible.

i am also still trying to figure out if any wifi cards are compatible.

I don't believe any wifi cards work with it, but I haven't looked into that lately(last 5 or 6 years). This is from the FAQ

Q: Can I turn my sw3 into a WAP with a wireless NIC?
A: Yes, you can do anything you want. However, while SW3 does have some wireless NIC drivers available, there is absolutely NO wireless infrastructure, at all. There is absolutely NO WAP functionality nor management utilities available by default either. Why would you want to inflict this dain-bramage on yourself anyway? (1) Consumer level wireless NICs usually use CHEESE for transceivers. If you buy a good one, you have spent as much, or more, than you would on a decent WAP. (2) Wireless NIC support on Linux is crap. (3) The usual sw3 is not deployed in an optimal area for wireless coverage. The WAP should be as central and elevated as is practical in the coverage area. The angry squirrels nest of cables and power cords behind the typical SW is hardly conducive to an EMI free-zone. You could perhaps overcome some of that with a high-gain antenna extension, which again, when combined with #1, means you have spent as much, and probably more on fitting that square peg into a round hole than you would if you just bought a decent WAP to begin with. It just doesn't make sense. That all being said, there are dozens of how-to build a WAP using linux tutorials out there. Knock yourself out!

Looks like there are a few hacks, but they're hacks, I'd not trust them on something that's supposed to keep people like us out.

[ParMan]

I don't believe any wifi cards work with it, but I haven't looked into that lately(last 5 or 6 years). This is from the FAQ

Q: Can I turn my sw3 into a WAP with a wireless NIC?
A: Yes, you can do anything you want. However, while SW3 does have some wireless NIC drivers available, there is absolutely NO wireless infrastructure, at all. There is absolutely NO WAP functionality nor management utilities available by default either. Why would you want to inflict this dain-bramage on yourself anyway? (1) Consumer level wireless NICs usually use CHEESE for transceivers. If you buy a good one, you have spent as much, or more, than you would on a decent WAP. (2) Wireless NIC support on Linux is crap. (3) The usual sw3 is not deployed in an optimal area for wireless coverage. The WAP should be as central and elevated as is practical in the coverage area. The angry squirrels nest of cables and power cords behind the typical SW is hardly conducive to an EMI free-zone. You could perhaps overcome some of that with a high-gain antenna extension, which again, when combined with #1, means you have spent as much, and probably more on fitting that square peg into a round hole than you would if you just bought a decent WAP to begin with. It just doesn't make sense. That all being said, there are dozens of how-to build a WAP using linux tutorials out there. Knock yourself out!

Looks like there are a few hacks, but they're hacks, I'd not trust them on something that's supposed to keep people like us out.

thanks a lot for this mate i think i will use pfsense. i really appreciate the information