Everybody's talking about using Linux to turn an old
486 into a router/firewall for a home or small office
network. This article offers step-by-step instructions for setting up
such a device using Open Source software from the Linux Router Project (LRP).
If you have an Internet connection with a single static IP address, a
486 box with a working floppy drive and at least 12MB of RAM, two NICs
and a hub, you have everything you need to provide safe Internet
connectivity for your whole network.
What is LRP? In brief, it's a minimalist Linux distribution
that boots from a single floppy disk. Since the disk can be write-protected
using the corner tab lock, there is no chance for anyone to damage your
installation over the Internet. On the off-chance the firewall is breached,
you can return the machine to its original state by simply cycling the power
to reboot.
LRP runs atop a filesystem mounted on a RAM-disk. Because everything
is in RAM, it runs very quickly. A 486 should be more than able to keep pace with
a T-1 or better.
After setup, LRP machines can be run "headless" -- without a monitor. For
the home network, it may be desirable to remove the harddrive. (In
any case, it won't be mounted while LRP is running.) After the drive is gone
you may safely disconnect the fan for quieter operation.
This article assumes some basic knowledge of Linux and enough
networking savvy to configure two computers together on a LAN. For additional information on LRP, consult the LRP documentation or mailing list.
Let's get started by taking a closer look at exactly what we'll need.
