Network Tutorial: Sharing with a Linux Router

Remy_3D

Linux has a very powerful IP stack built into the operating system.  Linux itself has the capability of routing your lan to the internet with NAT or Network Address Translation (explain NAT).  In the Linux world this is often called IP Masquerading.

My favorite way to use Linux as a router is with a micro-distribution. There are versions of Linux out there that run off of a single floppy disk. Using one of these distributions, you can convert an old, unused computer (even a 486!) into a capable broadband router. Since the software fits on a floppy, you don抰 even need a hard drive in the system! Most of the micro-distributions of Linux routers have minimum requirements of a 386 with 16Mb of memory.

My favorite linux router is called Cyote Linux. Cyote Linux has a very cool installation and configuration method. Cyote Linux starts with a Windows program. Run it, and you can actually configure the router in Windows. Next, a program creates a bootable floppy disk that has your fully configured Linux broadband router!

Micro-distribution based broadband router projects

Cyote Linux
http://www.coyotelinux.com/

Linux Router Project
http://www.linuxrouter.org/

EDGE Firewal, a Lineo Embedix ThinLinux demonstration of embedded computing products
http://edge.fireplug.net/

For NetBSD Fans, The NetBSD/i386 Firewall Project
http://www.dubbele.com/

General Linux Networking Links

Linux Firewall and Security Site
http://www.linux-firewall-tools.com/linux/

Home Networking with Linux
http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue28/journeay.html

IP Masquerading How-To
http://www.linuxdoc.org/HOWTO/IP-Masquerade-HOWTO.html