[H-GEN] adsl help

[R&J Stuart]

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Stuart Longland wrote:
> Your best bet would be, in my impression, to use a DSL router, which is
> designed for sharing a connection across a number of computers.  These
> babies will work with just about any TCP/IP compatable OS including
> Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Syllable (http://syllable.sf.net/), and Windoze.
> 
> We're using a D-Link DSL-504 quite happily here, our webserver
> www.longlandclan.hopto.org is running Red Hat Linux 8.0 quite happily
> and is fully able to communicate with the router for internet access,
> and AFAIK, these ones support PPPoE if your ISP needs it.  I don't know
> about Tel$tra and IInet, but we've had no problems with our ADSL service
> via iTel (http://www.itel.gil.com.au).  And their helpdesk does
> (partially) support Linux as I've had to get in touch with them
> reguarding mail server problems (their server bounced our email for some
> reason - content rejected).

When it comes to "routers" from networking companies, I'm a little dubious 
about trusting NAT and FW functions to an OS I know nothing or next to 
nothing about.  I've not used DLink HW much at all, but I get a poor 
impression about security when it comes to equipment that is designed for 
the home market.  I would probably not ever use a router unless the OS is 
well supported and actively maintained.  ie I can see a website with a lot 
of support information on it eg Cisco (I've only ever really used cisco 
routers); I'd much rather maintain a unix box as a router.  It also means 
that you can extend it's capabilities greatly too eg do the DLink boxes do 
normal outbound non-passive ftp OK?

Ideally I'd like to see router boxes that you can load say Linux onto.... 
can Cisco routers (say 160x series) have Linux run on them?

Regards,

Robert


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