[Soekris] Want to build a router

[Trevor Talbot]

On May 22, 2008, at 1:08 PM, Stephen Brown Jr wrote:

> I'm new to this platform, and embedded computing as well and I want  
> to build a router for my home network. Right now I'm using  
> Smoothwall on an old Gateway system.
>
> I'd like to stay with that, or maybe try pfsense or possibly roll my  
> own using Debian. I run a small network with about 3-5 machines  
> which includes a webserver, an iMac, two laptops, and another linux  
> desktop.
>
> I also have a dedicated switch and WAP. Based on my needs, what  
> would be the best Soekris solution to get? I'm interested in the  
> Net5501 but I feel it might be slightly overkill for what I need and  
> it is a bit pricey....

I notice nobody has suggested a net4501. Although older and slower, it  
is fairly capable and would probably cover your needs for a basic  
router. However, it does not support HDs, and from what I can tell  
pfsense and smoothwall have abandoned 486-class systems with 64MB RAM.  
m0n0wall supported the net45xx originally, but I can't tell if it  
still does; the site contradicts itself.

This could make getting a 4501 to do what you want either an  
interesting challenge, or just too much work.

> Also, are there any guides out there on setting up linux, pfsense,  
> or smoothwall on these devices?

There's a wiki that has collected various info: http://wiki.soekris.info/