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[OCLUG-Tech] Low powered firewall

I'm extremely interested in building a low powered firewall as well.  I
eventually settled on micro ATX format, intel Atom chip with 2GB ram
(fanless)  It's about twice the size of a linksys router and I was able
to get a multi ethernet board (5 ports).  I have multiple networks at
home.  I settled for pfSense for the firewall application.  I haven't
done extensive research from as far as I can tell, you can't add more
then 2 RJ45 ports on Raspberry PI (would love to use that format)    
The best low powered solution I could find that still had enough meat
and potatoes under the hood is from these guys 
http://soekris.com/products/net5501.html   but they are a bit pricey.




Jeff Green
Email: mail [ at ] forjeff [ dot ] com
Blog/Photography/Bio: http://forjeff.com
Cell/Text: 613.552.2704

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Linux Digest, Vol 121, Issue 6
> From: linux-request [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Date: Mon, January 05, 2015 10:00 pm
> To: linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Re: Opinions requested: LF Good low powered multi-port
>       gateway/wireless router (Alex Pilon)
>    2. Re: Opinions requested: LF Good low powered multi-port
>       gateway/wireless router (Paul Belanger)
>    3. Re: Opinions requested: LF Good low powered multi-port
>       gateway/wireless router (Peter Meyer)
>    4. Re: Opinions requested: LF Good low powered multi-port
>       gateway/wireless router (Singer Wang)
>    5. Re: Opinions requested: LF Good low powered multi-port
>       gateway/wireless router (Alex Pilon)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 12:00:52 -0500
> From: Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
> To: Peter Meyer <petermeyer69 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com>
> Cc: linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Opinions requested: LF Good low powered
> 	multi-port gateway/wireless router
> Message-ID: <20150105170052 [ dot ] GA800 [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> 
> On Sun, Jan 04, 2015 at 01:52:23PM -0500, Peter Meyer wrote:
> > Opinions please.  I am looking to build/buy something that replaces my
> > existing router/gateway box.
> >
> > My thinking is taking me in two directions.  One is to replace my existing
> > WRT54GL running Tomato with another embedded system running openWRT
> 
> Why not just stock Linux? What are you doing that requires those
> firmwares? Just stock linux, sysctl net.ipv4.ip_forward=1, a bit of
> iptables or nftables, dnsmasq or ISC DHCPd and your favourite caching
> and recursing nameserver, some static addressing and routes, and you're
> done, not to mention have far more control than you could hope for.
> 
> But first, what are your speed requirements?
> 
> > or build a multi-port router
> 
> How is being multi-port exclusive?
> 
> > (raspberry pi???)
> 
> The Raspberry Pi *isn't* multi-port. You'll have to use tagged VLANs and
> a managed switch, like a Netgear GS-10[58]T to get around that.
> 
> > with:
> > [?]
> > 2. unique zones and policies that separate the wifi (wlan) from the
> >    local network (lan) and firewall both from the internet.
> 
> iptables or nftables. Zones are an abstraction built by the *WRTs, that
> produce very messy rulesets, no more. Did that with my router at home
> for my two ISPs and two subnets, and it works.
> 
> > 3. QOS controls - This has become less of an issue as my DSL pipe is
> >    10/1, however I would like to add VOIP onto this network and
> >    prioritize its traffic above all other.
> 
> If you want to *strictly prioritize*, and aren't worried about
> starvation, you'd use the prio qdisc. The simplest would be two bands,
> one for VoIP traffic, and the other for the remainder.
> 
> Use tc (from iproute2) and a few iptables targets used to manage Linux
> QoS. But before even looking at that, is your link even appropriate for
> VoIP?  What's the latency on it like? Low and predictable enough? Have
> you tested it?
> 
> Mind you, if you can find good tc filter documentation, you'll be in
> luck. tc itself isn't very helpful when you enter incorrect rules. And
> I'm sorely tempted to run Linux under a debugger just to figure out
> where it's failing.
> 
> > I've started prototyping this idea using a raspberry PI running Shorewall,
> 
> Why Shorewall?
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> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 12:16:47 -0500
> From: Paul Belanger <paul [ dot ] belanger [ at ] polybeacon [ dot ] com>
> To: Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
> Cc: Peter Meyer <petermeyer69 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com>, linux
> 	<linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca>
> Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Opinions requested: LF Good low powered
> 	multi-port gateway/wireless router
> Message-ID:
> 	<CALLKq0QFF9ZFFfSyoQMHurZk8yUU+EOwuanWzv0qBwcVT=TuWw [ at ] mail [ dot ] gmail [ dot ] com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> On Mon, Jan 5, 2015 at 12:00 PM, Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca> wrote:
> > On Sun, Jan 04, 2015 at 01:52:23PM -0500, Peter Meyer wrote:
> >> Opinions please.  I am looking to build/buy something that replaces my
> >> existing router/gateway box.
> >>
> >> My thinking is taking me in two directions.  One is to replace my existing
> >> WRT54GL running Tomato with another embedded system running openWRT
> >
> > Why not just stock Linux? What are you doing that requires those
> > firmwares? Just stock linux, sysctl net.ipv4.ip_forward=1, a bit of
> > iptables or nftables, dnsmasq or ISC DHCPd and your favourite caching
> > and recursing nameserver, some static addressing and routes, and you're
> > done, not to mention have far more control than you could hope for.
> >
> > But first, what are your speed requirements?
> >
> >> or build a multi-port router
> >
> > How is being multi-port exclusive?
> >
> >> (raspberry pi???)
> >
> > The Raspberry Pi *isn't* multi-port. You'll have to use tagged VLANs and
> > a managed switch, like a Netgear GS-10[58]T to get around that.
> >
> >> with:
> >> [?]
> >> 2. unique zones and policies that separate the wifi (wlan) from the
> >>    local network (lan) and firewall both from the internet.
> >
> > iptables or nftables. Zones are an abstraction built by the *WRTs, that
> > produce very messy rulesets, no more. Did that with my router at home
> > for my two ISPs and two subnets, and it works.
> >
> >> 3. QOS controls - This has become less of an issue as my DSL pipe is
> >>    10/1, however I would like to add VOIP onto this network and
> >>    prioritize its traffic above all other.
> >
> > If you want to *strictly prioritize*, and aren't worried about
> > starvation, you'd use the prio qdisc. The simplest would be two bands,
> > one for VoIP traffic, and the other for the remainder.
> >
> > Use tc (from iproute2) and a few iptables targets used to manage Linux
> > QoS. But before even looking at that, is your link even appropriate for
> > VoIP?  What's the latency on it like? Low and predictable enough? Have
> > you tested it?
> >
> > Mind you, if you can find good tc filter documentation, you'll be in
> > luck. tc itself isn't very helpful when you enter incorrect rules. And
> > I'm sorely tempted to run Linux under a debugger just to figure out
> > where it's failing.
> >
> >> I've started prototyping this idea using a raspberry PI running Shorewall,
> >
> > Why Shorewall?
> >
> Some feedback on another product.
> 
> I'm in the process of pulling the trigger on getting a RouterBoard
> RB2011iL-IN[1]. However, this version does not have wireless support
> so you'd have to drop a wireless AP or move to the RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN
> [2].  It should offer everything listed in your original email.
> 
> [1] http://routerboard.com/RB2011iL-IN
> [2] http://routerboard.com/RB2011UiAS-2HnD-IN
> 
> -- 
> Paul Belanger | PolyBeacon, Inc.
> Jabber: paul [ dot ] belanger [ at ] polybeacon [ dot ] com | IRC: pabelanger (Freenode)
> Github: https://github.com/pabelanger | Twitter: https://twitter.com/pabelanger
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:33:35 +0000
> From: Peter Meyer <petermeyer69 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com>
> To: Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
> Cc: linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Opinions requested: LF Good low powered
> 	multi-port gateway/wireless router
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAPuTOo1WRO5XaswoSpC5kwTw+VXeXTLO5DWOpLM1QzFP+Xgnfw [ at ] mail [ dot ] gmail [ dot ] com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> Hi Alex:
> 
> Stock Linux would be my first choice, but I do want a system that has a
> power budget of less than 10 Watts.  (This is for home use).
> 
> My end goal is to create a separate guest account for the wireless(with
> access blocked to the local lan).  I know a number of Linksys (and I hear
> OpenWRT) configuration will support this.
> 
> The Utilite (http://www.compulab.co.il/utilite-computer/web/utilite-overview)
> would be my best best in terms of power and has  separate GMII ports.
> 
> As for speed, I can't forsee data ever exceeding 30Mb/s (the anticipated
> limitation of DSL in my area).
> 
> The QOS is a nice to have.  I've been spoiled by the simple interface
> offered by Tomato.  I don't know what it does with my QOS classes in the
> background.
> 
> This might make a solution with the PI possible.  Again, I need to see if
> the USB hub can handle a push of traffic without dropping packets.
> 
> I mention Shorewall, as it's a firewall configuration script/tools I became
> familiar with some years ago to lbridge/firewall a modem to my home network.
> 
> Alex:  Thanks for replying!!
> 
> Peter
> 
> 
> On Mon Jan 05 2015 at 12:01:11 Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca> wrote:
> 
> > On Sun, Jan 04, 2015 at 01:52:23PM -0500, Peter Meyer wrote:
> > > Opinions please.  I am looking to build/buy something that replaces my
> > > existing router/gateway box.
> > >
> > > My thinking is taking me in two directions.  One is to replace my
> > existing
> > > WRT54GL running Tomato with another embedded system running openWRT
> >
> > Why not just stock Linux? What are you doing that requires those
> > firmwares? Just stock linux, sysctl net.ipv4.ip_forward=1, a bit of
> > iptables or nftables, dnsmasq or ISC DHCPd and your favourite caching
> > and recursing nameserver, some static addressing and routes, and you're
> > done, not to mention have far more control than you could hope for.
> >
> > But first, what are your speed requirements?
> >
> > > or build a multi-port router
> >
> > How is being multi-port exclusive?
> >
> > > (raspberry pi???)
> >
> > The Raspberry Pi *isn't* multi-port. You'll have to use tagged VLANs and
> > a managed switch, like a Netgear GS-10[58]T to get around that.
> >
> > > with:
> > > [?]
> > > 2. unique zones and policies that separate the wifi (wlan) from the
> > >    local network (lan) and firewall both from the internet.
> >
> > iptables or nftables. Zones are an abstraction built by the *WRTs, that
> > produce very messy rulesets, no more. Did that with my router at home
> > for my two ISPs and two subnets, and it works.
> >
> > > 3. QOS controls - This has become less of an issue as my DSL pipe is
> > >    10/1, however I would like to add VOIP onto this network and
> > >    prioritize its traffic above all other.
> >
> > If you want to *strictly prioritize*, and aren't worried about
> > starvation, you'd use the prio qdisc. The simplest would be two bands,
> > one for VoIP traffic, and the other for the remainder.
> >
> > Use tc (from iproute2) and a few iptables targets used to manage Linux
> > QoS. But before even looking at that, is your link even appropriate for
> > VoIP?  What's the latency on it like? Low and predictable enough? Have
> > you tested it?
> >
> > Mind you, if you can find good tc filter documentation, you'll be in
> > luck. tc itself isn't very helpful when you enter incorrect rules. And
> > I'm sorely tempted to run Linux under a debugger just to figure out
> > where it's failing.
> >
> > > I've started prototyping this idea using a raspberry PI running
> > Shorewall,
> >
> > Why Shorewall?
> >
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 14:12:52 -0500
> From: Singer Wang <wang [ at ] singerwang [ dot ] com>
> To: petermeyer69 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com
> Cc: linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Opinions requested: LF Good low powered
> 	multi-port gateway/wireless router
> Message-ID:
> 	<CAGaPp0ygCyWnTBhjAiWRaD146-_TymRgDDbEe8z-LkJZ-exKRA [ at ] mail [ dot ] gmail [ dot ] com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> I tried the ThinkPengiun solution and I found it rather lacking. We do a
> fair bit of transfers on the local LAN between computers plugged in and
> those on Wifi. The two main limitations for us were:
> 1) only 100Mb ethernet ports
> 2) the wireless-N is only on the 2.4GHz band, not 5GHz and is really slow..
> I have never been able to hit more then 80Mb/s from it even right next to
> it..
> 
> S
> 
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2015 at 1:52 PM, Peter Meyer <petermeyer69 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com> wrote:
> 
> > Forum:
> >
> > Opinions please.  I am looking to build/buy something that replaces my
> > existing router/gateway box.
> >
> > My thinking is taking me in two directions.  One is to replace my existing
> > WRT54GL running Tomato with another embedded system running openWRT or
> > build a multi-port router (raspberry pi???) with:
> >
> > 1. wireless N
> > 2. unique zones and policies that separate the wifi (wlan) from the
> >    local network (lan) and firewall both from the internet.
> > 3. QOS controls - This has become less of an issue as my DSL pipe is
> >    10/1, however I would like to add VOIP onto this network and
> >    prioritize its traffic above all other.
> >
> >
> > I've started prototyping this idea using a raspberry PI running Shorewall,
> > but read discussion groups  that mention that the USB hub can't handle the
> > multiple USB<->Ethernet ports and will start dropping packets.  I'll know
> > more once I've go this set up and start pushing serious traffic through it.
> >
> > The one box that might serve this firewall function well is a utilite <
> > http://www.compulab.co.il/utilite-computer/web/utilite-overview> box that
> > has two GIGE ports connected right to the ARM processor.
> >
> > Can you make any further comments on the thinkpenguin solution <
> > https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/free-software-
> > wireless-n-broadband-router-gnu-linux-tpe-nwifirouter2> mentioned or
> > other router boxes that with OpenWRT would meet the above mentioned
> > requirements.
> >
> > Thanks!!
> >
> > Peter
> > _______________________________________________
> > Linux mailing list
> > Linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> > http://oclug.on.ca/mailman/listinfo/linux
> >
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2015 22:00:38 -0500
> From: Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
> To: Peter Meyer <petermeyer69 [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com>
> Cc: linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca
> Subject: Re: [OCLUG-Tech] Opinions requested: LF Good low powered
> 	multi-port gateway/wireless router
> Message-ID: <20150106030038 [ dot ] GB4444 [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> > > On Sun, Jan 04, 2015 at 01:52:23PM -0500, Peter Meyer wrote:
> > > > Opinions please. I am looking to build/buy something that replaces my
> > > > existing router/gateway box.
> > >
> > On Mon Jan 05 2015 at 12:01:11 Alex Pilon <alp [ at ] alexpilon [ dot ] ca> wrote:
> > > Why not just stock Linux?
> 
> On Mon, Jan 05, 2015 at 06:33:35PM +0000, Peter Meyer wrote:
> > Stock Linux would be my first choice, but I do want a system that has a
> > power budget of less than 10 Watts. (This is for home use).
> 
> Pardon me, I meant software; not disputing the choice of hardware.
> 
> > The Utilite (http://www.compulab.co.il/utilite-computer/web/utilite-overview)
> > would be my best best in terms of power and has separate GMII ports.
> 
> I've been looking for a solid-cased 2-4 port SBC, *without video*, or
> any extraneous components. Too bad the Utilite is just one more such
> board.
> 
> > I can't forsee data ever exceeding 30Mb/s (the anticipated limitation
> > of DSL in my area).
> 
> No intra-WLAN, or WLAN-LAN traffic? There was another post that
> complained about that too. Sure, 802.11 is half-duplex, so you're not
> losing any more throughput, but LAN-WLAN traffic will take more of a hit
> than it ought, being both over the same USB bus.
> 
> > > Use tc (from iproute2) and a few iptables targets used to manage Linux
> > > QoS.
> >
> > The QOS is a nice to have. I've been spoiled by the simple interface
> > offered by Tomato. I don't know what it does with my QOS classes in the
> > background.
> 
> LARTC was written a while back, and isn't too bad of an *introduction*
> still, as outdated and occasionally faulty as it is. There's also this:
> 
>     http://wiki.linuxwall.info/doku.php/en:ressources:dossiers:networking:traffic_control
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> 
> End of Linux Digest, Vol 121, Issue 6
> *************************************