[TriLUG] Slightly OT: AOL Cable Broadband & Linux

[bp]

re: (3) If I remember right, when they connect through AOL email really 
would be sent through AOL's mail servers.

Sometimes I think folks pick a solution based on what they know and love 
without actually looking at the requirements.  The requirements listed 
below didn't suggest any need for a webserver or other value adds that 
linux can provide.  Having just made this decission for my parents on 
Cox cable broadband I'd say a solid state router is a better idea.

Although in my last apartment my roommates and I maintained an edge 
linux box for about 2 yrs.  Uptime on the linux box was typically 
6months before we'd hang it up, upgrade, or the power would be out 
longer than the UPS could stand.  After 2 years the box ate the HD. 
 That was a major pain esp. when you have other stuff to do.  Rather 
than rebuild, reinstall redeploy we choose a handy Linksys 1 port router 
to take the place, despite it being solid state it would freeze up on a 
regular basis.  Typically 2-4 weeks uptime.  Not very impressive but it 
was in a closet with limited air flow with 4 people going though it.

Even though my experice says linux routers get better uptime than router 
appliances I'd still go with a router appliance.

1) It's cheaper.  (My D-Link di-604 was $30, wired of course)
2) Easier for someone to 'reboot'.  (Told the parents to just cut the 
power to it & the modem for a few mins before turning it back on.)
3) Most can still be config'd for administration from the outside. 
(Unsure of how secure that may be on each product)
4) Rules and filters are typically robust enough for the average home user.
5) appliance patches/firmware are few and far between usually (low 
maintence)


Spreading the linux gospel is great, but preach it to those likely to 
listen.  My parents aren't likely canidates for running their own 
webserver.  If the linux box went south it'd be my problem.

-bp




Greg Brown wrote:

> I'd suggest just the opposite.  I have a linux based edge device 
> (router, iptables, blah) and it works great.  Having this in places 
> allows me to:
>
> 1. run iptables (which I really like as a firewall)
> 2. run a ssh server on the Internet side (most of the boxed edge 
> routers can forward ports, but it's just not as fun)
> 3. run a wide open sendmail server which allows forwarding (of course 
> only on the inside interface  - can't have an open sendmail server on 
> the Internet side).   This was your parents can send mail that looks 
> like it originates from AOL even though it might be coming from a 
> different domain.
> 4. run a web server (if you care to)
>
> There are other reasons why I like to have a edge linux device, but 
> these are the ones that come to mind first.  But it does add 
> complexity but, on the flip side, I think it would make remote 
> administration of the network a bit easier if you can ssh right into 
> the edge router from anywhere on the Internet.  And this can all run 
> on a P-II system.  It's quite possible you can get your hands on a 
> P-II Dell for less than a broadband router.
>
> Just my $.02.
>
> Greg
>
> On Monday, Jan 6, 2003, at 12:59 America/New_York, Jason Tower wrote:
>
>> as neat as it is to run a linux box as a router, it's probably not 
>> necessary
>> in this case.  just use a regular wireless router (take your pick, 
>> they are
>> all fairly similar) and set the VNC servers to listen on different 
>> ports so
>> you can do selective port forwarding at the router (forward port 5900 to
>> 192.168.0.2, 5901 to 192.168.0.3, and so on).  a few models have a 
>> parallel
>> port and print server built in as well.
>>
>> running a seperate linux router w/ iptables may give a little extra 
>> security,
>> but the added complexity is probably not worth the effort.  if 
>> security is a
>> concern, use a wireless router with a SPI firewall, that should be close
>> enough to an iptables solution.
>>
>> jason
>>
>> On Monday 06 January 2003 12:42, Andrew Perrin wrote:
>>
>>> Folks,
>>>
>>> My in-laws are moving into a new house in Carrboro, and they've 
>>> asked me
>>> to help with computer stuff. Their criteria are:
>>> - Keep their AOL addresses;
>>> - Let both of them be online at once;
>>> - Have three computers on two floors share the internet connection, 
>>> files,
>>>     and the printer
>>>
>>> My additional criterion is:
>>> - Do (some) administrative tasks remotely
>>>
>>>
>>> What I would like to do is very much like what I have at home: a cable
>>> modem into a cheap linux computer acting as a router with IPTables, 
>>> with
>>> a WAP providing wireless access to the three other computers, 
>>> probably all
>>> windows running VNC servers.
>>>
>>> Question for y'all: has anyone used AOL's cable broadband service w/
>>> linux? Any pitfalls I should beware of?
>>>
>>> Also: my plan is to use the linux box for the local routing both 
>>> because
>>> it's cool and because it will allow for some remote administration. Is
>>> that stupid, i.e., should I just buy an out-of-the-box broadband 
>>> router?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Andrew J Perrin - http://www.unc.edu/~aperrin
>>> Assistant Professor of Sociology, U of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
>>> clists at perrin.socsci.unc.edu * andrew_perrin (at) unc.edu
>>