i've tried Smoothwall, IPCop, ClarkConnect (CE) and SME Server 7 for my router-wannabe and finally settled for ClarkConnect for now.

My purpose is an all-in-one firewall, router, webserver and fileserver. I would've used ipcop for it (due to its great gui, managing and logging function), except that in the end i realized it is intended solely for firewall+routing solution. If you decided to host a webpage or samba-ing, it's better to go for all-in-one like clarkconnect and sme server - because it's meant to be that way - an all-in-one, where as ipcop/smoothwall/monowall is dedicated for firewall/routing (i break my ipcop once when i tried to make it a torrent server + webserver - done a lot of compiling and then it starts to act funny) linux n00b

so far, having a dedicated pc router is great, except for the electric bills your linux have to run 24hrs and with all the clients running too, it just adds up to the bills (+1 pc) anyway, i would rather have this than the router+modem combo im having (aztech 600eu).. more than 400 connection and it will hang, need to reboot modem and after 12hrs reboot again well not with this beast, 6k connection currently and it didn't give a damn add that with a web proxy function, intrusion detection system, system statistics, mailserver, QoS and webserver = win.

just remember though, if u are concerned about security and at the same time want to have all this webserver/mailserver/any service that needs incoming connection, better to add another server like this


Currently my clarkconnect box serves as a torrent server, video/mp3 encoder and fileserver for my network. Still trying to find a better bt client for linux other than torrentflux i can't afford to install azureus in my server with 128mb ram

I think this topic should be about discussing about dedicated pc running as a router/firewall/server for home network. What u say?

And one more thing, if you are just running one or two pc in your network, i think it's better to just use the router modem combo.. not much processing power needed, unless both of the pc is used heavily for bt/internet/server function.

p/s: oh, n for those of u who are afraid with linux - relax~ before this i also know nothing, but now know how to configure, make and make install it's easy unless you decided to add something up to the default installation. and even when you decided to do so, it's still not that hard. google is your friend

This post has been edited by angeldothack: Oct 27 2006, 10:18 PM

have you tried installing copfilter in ur ipcop box? it's a great addition, in a way it includes ClamAv antivirus that integrates with the built-in squid proxy (i used advproxy - more options than the default one) i've also tried doing a sigx script that can be cron'd (if u felt like showing off your ipcop box) but too bad i didn't save it >.<

My 'router' also use D-Link card (2 of them), and both of them detected as realtek8139

boblp: i think it will work with any router that have rj-45 port. heck, u didn't even need any router anyway, since your server will be your router. the only thing needed is an adsl modem, switch and a pc with a network card (x2)

maybe it loads faster because of the webproxy.. do u activate it?

yeah, port 80 high priority, and based on your graph, do u run bt? maybe try to add a rule for that too, lower than the http priority. i think there's also a more advance plugin for QoS available for ipcop.. try look in here http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=144798

like stealer said, u can use torrentflux. and torrentflux b4rt - a torrentflux client that has been modified/enhanced. i tried both and it's good, but i think better stick to the original client (torrentflux) and plugged-in what you wants. depends on you

for me, i use mldonkey. a multi-client (bt, emule, overnet, gnutella, http download). compile and left running in my cc box, then install sancho in my winxp machine and managed everything from there. there's also a webgui administration builtin for mldonkey.

transparent squid - yes. with statistics and dans guardian for content filtering.

compile custom application - yes, but need to install a development package (gcc and kernel sourcecode if you need it. easily install and removed - not advised to keep any development package in there..)

bind with another eth interface - ..? sorry, i'm not that good with networking stuff. but u can specify what the eth role, and what it's function. anyway, if the builtin webgui doesn't satisfy you (very basic function), you can install webmin (custom for cc, just use apt-get install)for advance administration

like stealer has pointed out,
basically, it's one of those other torrent client like azureus, bitcomet, utorrent, abc, etc~. it's main 'engine' is using bittornado (the b4rt edition also supports transmission - another CLI bt client).

now, it's different from other client, in a way it have a web interface. what is web interface? if you use azureus, or utorrent, u must've heard of WebUI. It's one of the method of download/managing the torrents from your web browser. The only times you want to do this (control the torrent from a web browser) is when you aren't in front of the PC. let's say you are at the office, working.. and you realized that the latest naruto episode has been released. your pc is switched on, in your home - downloading other files.. but you want this naruto episode finished downloading (theorically) when you got back from work. now this is when the WebUI (or web interface, or web component.. whatever you name it) kicks in.

You open your browser, type your no-ip/dyndns address (for your pc), specifying what ports is opened for the 'remote' controlling, and it will loads your bt client - in the browser. you just put the bt links in here, and it will get the torrent file and it will start downloading and finish by the time you back from work (i hope )

ok you can all flame me now, better we use VNC

this is for casual users.. now we, are a member of DIY router. we need to make use of our router! rather than have 4 pc running at the same time, BT'ing, online 24hrs to finished downloading - we make our router do all the dirty works, successfully reducing uptime (and electricity cost) of each client, easy bandwidth management (1pc to throttle), easier port-forward rules, and minimizing 'duplicate' torrent problem - in other words centralized. and i love a centralized place to do everything

unfortunately, there's no linux client that supports all the advance stuff in bt like protocol encryption and dht - and have a WebUI, except for azureus. and being me, i didn't really like java stuff.. and my cc box aren't really that 'powerful'. so i just stick with other clients for this time being..

This post has been edited by angeldothack: Oct 29 2006, 11:35 PM

what modem you are using? and before this does it overheated too, when you just using the modem and no ipcop? does it hang, or you felt that it just hotter than before

hmm, don't know much about that modem.. but as for mine, it is more stable since all the routing is done in the cc box. the modem just for connections (bridging), and so far it works great. maybe need to tweak some more..? for the modem settings i guess

wah.. i don't understand all this multi-wan load balancing stuff. so i leave that to the pro ones

wilson88: i use ClamAv. for ipcop there's a plugin - copfilter that comes with clamav. but i never succeed on detecting virus at router level maybe my configuration is wrong

well, it would auto-discard/auto-delete/auto-quarantine - based on your settings and it will send an alert via email to you (based on the copfilter implementation). and rest assured, there will be no pop up

This post has been edited by angeldothack: Nov 2 2006, 11:34 PM

from what i read, it's not advisable to install development package in any dedicated router. usually after i compile something, i removed it back. i might be wrong though

Maybe you have found your solutions, but i'll recommend MLDonkey (link) in the gateway/server, and install Sancho (link) for every client to control the mldonkey. It have the option of direct download (i nvr use this), emule (test for downloading some files, the speed is ok), and bittorrent (no protocol encrypt or dht, but can still reach max speed provided that the seed is plenty, and if u are connected with malaysians it gets better >_> *streamyxcaps*)

Define 'no good'? Are you mounting/adding a new drive in ur CC box? Currently my setup consists of 2 harddisk. 1x40gb for CC install and temporary downloads/storage, 1x250gb for permanent storage. The 250gb drive is from one of main PC running windows, and it use NTFS. I can't format that drive because a lots of things in there, so i just keep it as NTFS.

To mount it under clarkconnect, i use Fuse (link) coupled with NTFS-3g driver (link) then share the drive via samba for network access and file management. Both fuse and ntfs-3g need to be compiled and install however.. and I don't remember the steps (can check out here), but i can guarantee that it works flawlessly so far with my setup. However, I don't know how to defrag/scandisk the ntfs drive with this kind of setup except for removing it and plug in back to any winxp machine

I think it is possible since it can boot from it, but I never try that. Maybe u can try and report back to us

hehe, yeah. i'm using it in my clarkconnect. so far no problems and it works great. but like mokona_modoki said, it doesn't have defrag/chkdsk function.

anyway this is just a temporary solution until i got a new HDD (planning to add another 250/400gb to the cc box), transfer all the files to the new hdd and then format it with linux fs.

It uses SSH (not telnet?), go to your IPCop webadmin, and start the SSH service (System -> SSH, enable SSH, and then save). Then fire up your putty, enter your ipcop ip address (or hostname) and use port 222.

By default the Ipcop SSH service is off, and its port is 222. Hope this helps

This post has been edited by angeldothack: Nov 22 2006, 04:14 PM