Multi WAN connection router

Tempus · 11-17-2003, 04:00 PM

Last one of the new threads for today.

I'm looking at doing a failover, load balancing router. I've looked at the Symantec 200R VPN/Firewall appliance. Seems nice. Comes with VPN clients and 2 wan ports blah blah blah.

But, I figured it shouldn't be too hard to do it on a PC running a linux distro. Anyone have a clue which distro might be friendly towards this idea and/or a good place to ask that question.

I'm moderately linux savy but its not something I've put too much energy into lately. I figure its a good excuse to tone up and get back into it. And another good excuse to run another linux server.

So, help would be extremely appreciated. Take me to school guys.

airspirit · 11-17-2003, 04:39 PM

Look on http://forums.gentoo.org

If it can be done, I'm sure someone there knows. They have about the best repository of information I've come across.

Here is a direct link that addresses load balancing via iptables in linux: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/doc...ARTC.LOADSHARE

Nexland makes a dual WAN product with a dialup backup ... Xincom also makes one. It may be much easier to find a hardware router for aroudn $200 than try to set up a load balancing router via linux. I've taken a look at that article above (easily the best on the subject) and unless you are very linux savvy you will get lost quickly.

drummingpariah · 11-18-2003, 09:17 AM

if you have a spare computer lying around and some NICs, you can make the crappy computer into your router, as they say. that's what i'm running on, and it's perfect. well, near perfect. i have some problems occasionally, but nothing too big. i just haven't configured it properly. there are several linux distributions that will cater to your routering needs, but i'd suggest the gibraltar distribution. it's designed specifically for high-end router duties, which is what i'd consider dual-wan load balancing. anyway, if you have the stuff already, that's what i'd suggest, save yourself some serious cash!

Tempus · 11-18-2003, 10:36 AM

Yeah, I have plenty of spare computer "stuff" all over -- both at home and work. I just wasn't sure about the OS and other software.

I'll be grabbing those distros this week and give em a shot.

drummingpariah · 11-20-2003, 11:09 AM

don't know if you're familiar with linux or not, but you'll have to know the names of the chipsets on each of the NICs, and the protocol they use. most times the manufacturer has this stuff on their site, but it's something to take care of beforehand. but gibraltar works, i just installed it on my 500mhz. i dont have dual WAN, but it does support it. just get 3 NICs, and a hub/switch/router/whatever to have the routerbox output to, and the other 2 NICs are for the WAN inputs.

Tempus · 11-20-2003, 05:56 PM

sounds like a plan. I'll keep ya posted.

drummingpariah · 11-27-2003, 11:10 AM

just tried out routerlinux, and found that it's just a hardcore version of every router out there, with powerful firewall capabilities. it'll run on a 133 just fine, and if you just plan on having the other computer sit in a corner or something, go with that. if you plan on using your computer, go with gibraltar.

drummingpariah · 11-27-2003, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by airspirit

I've taken a look at that article above (easily the best on the subject) and unless you are very linux savvy you will get lost quickly.

absolutely right. but if you want to do this for free, i'd say it's worth a little learning. the ball's in your park. i think linux is nice to be comfy with, personally.

Tempus · 11-27-2003, 01:55 PM

I've got my dual p3/1.13 box acting as a file server / pdc under Win 2003 server ed. I figured I'd redo that box and use it as the new router (maybe as a proxy server too)

Not sure yet. I've got the boxes to spare. Waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too many. Its just finding the time to get it all going.

drummingpariah · 11-27-2003, 11:22 PM

i hear that. if going with linux, try routerlinux. i'm curious as to whether or not they've implemented dual wan. if not, write the developers and they'll do it just for you

they're good guys over that way. a little advice, when dealing with linux: take your time, and always RTFM! ALWAYS! the answers to all your questions lie within... unless they're hidden somewhere else. good luck!

Tempus · 12-09-2003, 04:02 PM

it doesn't seem to handle multi-wan side connections at default.

I couldn't find an email for the creator of router linux. Just the web page.

Joe · 12-15-2003, 08:38 PM

damn linux zelots... Just get yourself a couple pix's and be done with it

Hellion_Prime · 12-19-2003, 11:54 AM

Awwwww, c'mon Joe. You know you want to embrace the way of the penguin!

Seriously, tho. It shouldnt be very hard. The biggest hurdle to jump is getting the routing between the two WAN connections sorted out. I've been playing with the idea of building a Mini-ITX form factor box for routing/WAP duties myself.

Pyrotechnic · 01-14-2004, 05:17 PM

Smoothwall (www.smoothwall.org) is the best router OS that i've found, it has a remote config page, and it basically emulates what a real router would do, and it it not hard to set up. I ran it for a year on an old k62 300 system when routers were expensive, but since they are cheap now I bought a linksys. In that year i didn't have any issues with it.

11-17-2003, 04:00 PM	#1
Tempus Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 456	Multi WAN connection router Last one of the new threads for today. I'm looking at doing a failover, load balancing router. I've looked at the Symantec 200R VPN/Firewall appliance. Seems nice. Comes with VPN clients and 2 wan ports blah blah blah. But, I figured it shouldn't be too hard to do it on a PC running a linux distro. Anyone have a clue which distro might be friendly towards this idea and/or a good place to ask that question. I'm moderately linux savy but its not something I've put too much energy into lately. I figure its a good excuse to tone up and get back into it. And another good excuse to run another linux server. So, help would be extremely appreciated. Take me to school guys. __________________ Thou art God.

11-17-2003, 04:39 PM	#2
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	Look on http://forums.gentoo.org If it can be done, I'm sure someone there knows. They have about the best repository of information I've come across. Here is a direct link that addresses load balancing via iptables in linux: http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/doc...ARTC.LOADSHARE Nexland makes a dual WAN product with a dialup backup ... Xincom also makes one. It may be much easier to find a hardware router for aroudn $200 than try to set up a load balancing router via linux. I've taken a look at that article above (easily the best on the subject) and unless you are very linux savvy you will get lost quickly. __________________ #!/bin/sh {who;} {last;} {pause;} {grep;} {touch;} {unzip;} mount /dev/girl -t {wet;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} {fsck;} echo yes yes yes {yes;} umount {/dev/girl;zip;} rm -rf {wet.spot;} {sleep;} finger: permission denied

11-18-2003, 10:36 AM	#4
Tempus Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 456	Yeah, I have plenty of spare computer "stuff" all over -- both at home and work. I just wasn't sure about the OS and other software. I'll be grabbing those distros this week and give em a shot. __________________ Thou art God.

11-20-2003, 05:56 PM	#6
Tempus Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 456	sounds like a plan. I'll keep ya posted. __________________ Thou art God.

11-27-2003, 01:55 PM	#9
Tempus Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 456	I've got my dual p3/1.13 box acting as a file server / pdc under Win 2003 server ed. I figured I'd redo that box and use it as the new router (maybe as a proxy server too) Not sure yet. I've got the boxes to spare. Waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too many. Its just finding the time to get it all going. __________________ Thou art God.

11-18-2003, 09:17 AM	#3
drummingpariah Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 45	if you have a spare computer lying around and some NICs, you can make the crappy computer into your router, as they say. that's what i'm running on, and it's perfect. well, near perfect. i have some problems occasionally, but nothing too big. i just haven't configured it properly. there are several linux distributions that will cater to your routering needs, but i'd suggest the gibraltar distribution. it's designed specifically for high-end router duties, which is what i'd consider dual-wan load balancing. anyway, if you have the stuff already, that's what i'd suggest, save yourself some serious cash!

11-20-2003, 11:09 AM	#5
drummingpariah Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 45	don't know if you're familiar with linux or not, but you'll have to know the names of the chipsets on each of the NICs, and the protocol they use. most times the manufacturer has this stuff on their site, but it's something to take care of beforehand. but gibraltar works, i just installed it on my 500mhz. i dont have dual WAN, but it does support it. just get 3 NICs, and a hub/switch/router/whatever to have the routerbox output to, and the other 2 NICs are for the WAN inputs.

11-27-2003, 11:10 AM	#7
drummingpariah Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 45	just tried out routerlinux, and found that it's just a hardcore version of every router out there, with powerful firewall capabilities. it'll run on a 133 just fine, and if you just plan on having the other computer sit in a corner or something, go with that. if you plan on using your computer, go with gibraltar.

11-27-2003, 11:22 PM	#10
drummingpariah Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 45	i hear that. if going with linux, try routerlinux. i'm curious as to whether or not they've implemented dual wan. if not, write the developers and they'll do it just for you they're good guys over that way. a little advice, when dealing with linux: take your time, and always RTFM! ALWAYS! the answers to all your questions lie within... unless they're hidden somewhere else. good luck!

12-09-2003, 04:02 PM	#11
Tempus Cooling Savant Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 456	it doesn't seem to handle multi-wan side connections at default. I couldn't find an email for the creator of router linux. Just the web page. __________________ Thou art God.

12-15-2003, 08:38 PM	#12
Joe The Pro/Life Support System Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,041	damn linux zelots... Just get yourself a couple pix's and be done with it __________________ Joe - I only take this hat off for one thing... ProCooling archive curator and dusty skeleton.

12-19-2003, 11:54 AM	#13
Hellion_Prime Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Arlington, MA, US Posts: 90	Awwwww, c'mon Joe. You know you want to embrace the way of the penguin! Seriously, tho. It shouldnt be very hard. The biggest hurdle to jump is getting the routing between the two WAN connections sorted out. I've been playing with the idea of building a Mini-ITX form factor box for routing/WAP duties myself. __________________ That which does not kill me had BETTER do enough damage to keep me from firing back!

01-14-2004, 05:17 PM	#14
Pyrotechnic Cooling Savant Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 240	Smoothwall (www.smoothwall.org) is the best router OS that i've found, it has a remote config page, and it basically emulates what a real router would do, and it it not hard to set up. I ran it for a year on an old k62 300 system when routers were expensive, but since they are cheap now I bought a linksys. In that year i didn't have any issues with it.

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