[wellylug] Broadband Router (was: Broadband)

[Tony Wills]

At 11:31 12/08/04 +1200, Rob G wrote:
>On Thu, 2004-08-12 at 10:31, Tony W wrote:
> > At 07:40 12/08/04 +1200, Jethro wrote:
>...
> > >I'm planning to use a router, with firewalling to link the cable modem
> > >to my lan.
>...
> > Why buy?
>
>Because some of us don't have the time, technical skill or inclination
>to do the setup.

I think Jethro might be in the category that if you offered him $98 (cost 
of DSE router) to create a linux firewall he'd be really happy - and he 
gets the added value of learning maybe one of two more things.
(Even I'd create you a firewall for $98 :-)

The coyote firewall is designed to be easy to create and setup.  You can 
create the floppy from a windows GUI program if you like.  No need to see 
an iptable, can setup and manage all basic functions via simple web 
pages.  No cute flashing status lights, but some versions have used 
keyboard lights for status info (hack an old keyboard and mount controller 
with lights in a spare drive bay visible from the front) - but haven't seen 
that add-on with the 2.4 kernel.

It's also a nice entry level project to get involved in, not too complex, 
can learn a lot about linux from it (the author doesn't do many updates 
these days as he's got other commercial offerings, but there are a small 
group of people who work on adding features. My first foray into community 
supported software - I've submitted a few updates to scripts)

But it is not an all bells and whistles firewall but an in-expensive 
firewall appliance.