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Smoothwall and time logging

  • 29-07-2003 10:16am
    #1
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,840 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I'm thinking of replacing my homemade debian firewall/ISDN router with Smoothwall. It was a fun learning experience, but I like what I've seen so far of Smoothwall.

    A question for anyone who's used it: will it log dial-up time? This is important as I'm a UTVipXL customer. At the moment I'm using LineControl, which does a nice job for me.

    Also: has anyone used it with dial-on-demand over ISDN? Is it reliable? Does it go nuts dialling at all sorts of inappropriate times?


Comments

  • #2
    Jaden
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,393 ✭✭✭Jaden


    Smoothwall is good, IPCop is better. More a less the same thing, but IPcops documentation is x10 better.

    Get it here

    Join the mailing list, it's very handy.


  • #3
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,840 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Okay, I'll check it out: but does it log online time? ;)


  • #4
    Jaden
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,393 ✭✭✭Jaden


    It logs everything :)


  • #5
    Typedef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,563 ✭✭✭Typedef


    Ya, IpCop...

    follow the shoe


  • #6
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,840 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    I know I'm being a nuisance here, but:

    I really need to know if I can quickly establish how long I've spent dialled up this month, whether it's with SmoothWall or IpCop. I have this information now, and I'd hate to lose it.

    That's why I'm hoping someone who's using the software can tell me a simple yes or no.

    Thanks for the input so far.


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  • #7
    Typedef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,563 ✭✭✭Typedef


    Yeah from the IPCop
    FAQ http://ipcop.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/IPCop/IPCopFAQ#How_do_I_get_my_logs_off_IPCop

    and
    Screenshots http://ipcop.org/cgi-bin/twiki/view/IPCop/IPCopScreenshots

    It looks like there is some sort of logging facility.
    Whether or not this is cumlative or not, I can't say for sure, since I don't have an IPCop box beside me.

    Why don't you install it and find out?


  • #8
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,840 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Originally posted by Typedef
    Why don't you install it and find out?
    Because I already have a distro up and running that does the job for me. If I install it and find out that there isn't an easy way to determine cumulative online time for the month, then I'll be faced with the prospect of having to rebuild my existing setup.


  • #9
    liamo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭liamo


    Hi,

    On Smoothwall (in which case, probably on IPCop as well) the logs will show that "ppp0 has gone up / down" or some such message. I can't remember the exact format of the logging but it does log it. I don't believe that it calculates or displays the cumulative time but I'm sure you could build your own utility once you know where to get the raw data.

    Liam


  • #10
    Typedef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,563 ✭✭✭Typedef


    God boy, if it works, why would you want to replace it?


  • #11
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,840 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Good question. I want to install a dedicated firewall box as a proof-of-concept, because I'll probably be doing it for a couple of other people soon. I couldn't be bothered hand-building a distro similar to mine for them, so I would like to see if Smoothie or IPCop will meet my needs.

    Plus, I like the idea of the web-based administration. I [fairly] regularly ssh into my current box to adjust things or check them out, and I'd rather be able to do most of it through a web interface.


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  • #12
    Typedef
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,563 ✭✭✭Typedef


    I'll probably be doing it for a couple of other people soon.
    Ah.

    For the "clueless" (tm)[1] IPCop is an excellent choice. No previous use of braincells required or desired.

    I'd be surprised if it doesn't keep a total dialup log somewhere... I found it very comprehensive, for what it was designed to do, for you, if you're up to doing iptable config by hand, IPCop would be a step backwards.

    [1] Or "the technically impoverised", if you prefare.


  • #13
    Zaltais
    Closed Accounts Posts: 304 ✭✭Zaltais


    Originally posted by Typedef

    [1] Or "the technically impoverised", if you prefare.

    Completely off topic here, but a guy I used to work with had a great one.

    Computer User Non Technical

    Cracked me up every time....


  • #14
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,840 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    Well, my experiences with both SmoothWall and IPCop are distinctly underwhelming.

    Both exhibit the same problem: after an indeterminate period of time, they stop responding via either the web interface or SSH, which means I've no way of hanging up short of rebooting the box.

    I don't have time to investigate this properly, so I'm just going to rebuild my old setup from scratch. It wasn't perfect, but at least it worked.

    I'm actually wondering now if they were responsible for another issue that only cropped up yesterday: my Internet connection going dead, while remaining dialed up. The two didn't happen at the same time, but I think the connection problem only started when I installed Smoothwall, and it's still there with IPCop.

    Sigh.


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