At Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:48:14 -0500 CentOS mailing list centos@centos.org wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I've got kids who are growing older and I want to build a Linux box to filter Internet access. I've got six computers on the Internet, plus the laptops -- most run Windows. I'm not sure if it's called a router or gateway or...? I don't mind doing the leg work, I just don't know where to start. I'm pretty sure I'm *not* looking for a web server (though it might be fun to have a local web) -- I might also use the computer for a file server, but I mostly want a... proxy server? Not sure what tool I need to use. I seem to remember there were specialty Linux distributions for this purpose.
Once I do figure out what kind of box I'm building, would I still be able to put my Linksys router behind it, or would the Linux box *be* the router? -- and would I have to get a wireless switch instead? Would a Pentium III handle this duty, or would it gum up the works and make the Internet too slow?
It depends. The CentOS box could be a router. Typically you'd have two NICs (Network Interface Cards), one connecting to your cable/DSL/whatever 'modem', and the other to your LAN. Your Linksys router would then become merely a switch and wireless AP. You would probably disable the Linksys router's dhcp server and on-board caching name server, and transfer these functions to the CentOS box. Ditto for the firewall.
CentOS can also run a 'proxy' server, which could be used to filter / block / etc. access to web sites eg it could be used to limit 'teenage' access to certain sorts of websites for various reasons, including traffic limitations (no Youtube/iTunes video/audio downloads while daddy/mommy needs to use VPN to connect with the office, no IM'ing after bedtime on school nights, etc.). With the addition of the shaper module, you can also create a separate 'teen' virtual network with limited bandwidth.
Your Linksys router IS a simple 32-bit computer running Linux (typicall an ARM processor, not really any faster than a PIII, probably slower actually). A PIII has more than enough processing power to function as a router, DNS, and DHCP server. And probably as a proxy server too. The proxy server's limitations would mostly be a matter of fast enough disk access, partitularly if it was set up as a caching proxy server.
Sorry for stupid questions. At some point I'm going to have to learn about Linux servers. I'm hoping this project will help me get started on that.
Thanks for any pointers.