Scott Ehrlich wrote: > On Tue, 1 Jan 2008, Robert Moskowitz wrote: > >> >> >> Mark Weaver wrote: >>> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- >>> Hash: SHA1 >>> >>> On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:21:34 -0500 >>> Robert Moskowitz <rgm at htt-consult.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>>> William L. Maltby wrote: >>>> >>>>> On Mon, 2007-12-31 at 09:33 -0500, Robert Moskowitz wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Peter Farrell wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> "Problem is I want a REAL router/firewall with little work." >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Run a smoothwall installtion and replace your CentOS install. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> http://www.smoothwall.org/ >>>>>>> >>>>>> well first challenge is my unit's USB ethernet dongles. Centos >>>>>> uses the RTL 8150 driver for them. Smoothwall only lists the RTL >>>>>> 8129, 8139, and 8169... >>>>>> >>>>> I've used this at home for years. I don't know if it's suitable, >>>>> but it seems *very* flexible. Allows for NAT or not, has typical >>>>> zones, reporting, IPTables modification support, ... >>>>> >>>>> http://www.ipcop.org/ >>>>> >>>>> Has run/tested successfully on various configurations here. It's >>>>> another "ditch your CentOS" solution though. But you can put it on >>>>> any old junk laying around and it'ss probably work. Using cable >>>>> modem in the boonies, 486DX/66 gives about 450KB/sec, Pentium >>>>> 200MHz pci gives <= 700MB/sec - both from decent sites. Tested >>>>> using both ISA and PCI bus adapters through both twisted pair and >>>>> thin coax. >>>>> >>>> As I thought about things this morning, trying to put up smoothwall, >>>> I realized that one of my goals is to have a tool to turn a Centos >>>> system that I am using for foo, into a firewall for bar for a day. I >>>> have Astaro for my serious firewall needs (see later post), but >>>> need something 'portable'. You see I have these plans with some >>>> small itx systems.... >>>> >>> >>> have you considered linux that fits on a floppy disk? >>> >>> http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~thelinuxguy/small_and_floppy_linux/ >>> >>> http://www.linuxlinks.com/Distributions/Floppy/ >>> >>> http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux/Distributions/Tiny/Floppy_Sized/ >>> >>> >>> get one running and configured and save to floppy... things go south >>> reboot the machine and everything is back. no hard drives to worry >>> about... >>> >> Have you ever thought about how rare floppy drives are now? At best >> you go with a bootable usb, if your notebook supports bootable USB. >> My Libretto does have a bootable floppy, but that is something extra >> to carry. It will not boot from anything else (besides its HD). My >> nc4010 (this notebook) will boot from usb. My corp notebook (nc2400) >> is locked down; and I don't see any value at getting corp IT bent out >> of shape. >> > > Yes, floppy drives are rare - but they are still incredibly valuable. > I've dealt with needing to install drivers from floppy for OSes, and > the OSse are looking to floppy. > > I've needed DOS' fdisk to get me out of problems at times, and having > a bootable copy of DOS on-hand has done the job. > > Some BIOS updates are only available from a bootable floppy (won't > install to anything else). > > Saves times and frusteration in having a reusable floppy around than > having to sometimes create a bootable CD to put the files on. Reuse > the floppy as often as needed. I have a USB floppy that came with my Toshiba 3490. It is a very valuable part of my 'tool box'. > Old hardware still exists and is usable, and sometimes only work, or > work best, with floppies. > > Sometimes "old school" is still "good school". Talk to me about 'old school'. I sat at my first Teletype in '66 as a Junior in High School, learning Dartmouth Basic... But I am looking at what I can easily travel with, and a floppy is NOT part of a traveling collection. Enough gear to upset TSA as it is. > > We still often use "VT100" or "3270" emulation for remote > connectivity... Think about their origins. Check out who chaired the TN3270E workgroup ;) Want to discuss LU2 management layer? Not really, some things are best left in the dust heap. Along with those 55 Baud Teletypes!