[CentOS] CentOS or other Linux Internet Router/Gateway

Mon Aug 23 01:06:30 UTC 2010
Bob McConnell <rmcconne at lightlink.com>

Ron Blizzard 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?
> 
> 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.
> 

m0n0wall <http://m0n0.ch/wall/> is the probably easiest firewall package 
to use. It is FreeBSD based with a web interface to manage it. You can 
put it on any number of hardware configurations, including an older PC 
with two network cards. I've been using it for a couple of years now 
with no problems. It forwards logs to an internal syslog server on my 
home network.

Bob McConnell
N2SPP