Router load, adsl2+ and firewall

BoB_BoT

Hey all,
working on a small project for work, we have 22 machines, at the moment I'm just using a cisco router to handle the internet connection and from that to a switch and from the switch to the clients, no need for servers.

So with Eircom upping us to Adsl2+ to get the most out of the connection, we'll have to change the router. (current model hardware only supports adsl).
So what I was planning to do was use a Smoothwall box to connect to the clients and use the box for most of the load, dhcp, qos, filtering etc...

Finally getting to my question, can Netopia routers handle the load (just internet requests, dhcp, firewall, etc.. disabled) for 12 hrs a day, 7 days a week? Was looking at Linksys routers too more or less acting as a modem.

Can't really go the Cisco option at the moment, still learning studying and experimenting with IOS. Also have to watch costs, so an overly expensive router isn't an option despite it being the best option.

Thanks for any info or advice.
-Rob

joePC

If your using a Smoothwall box, I'd recommend using a Cisco 877 in bridge mode - very simply to setup and cheap.

Depending on the Netopia box, check out their website for traffic load info etc...

BoB_BoT

does the 877 come with a gui though? i.e. web login for configuration? as I said, my CLI knowledge is pretty limited at the moment and I wouldn't have enough knowledge to configure completely from the command line. I've also noticed that eircom are offering a "promotion" for business customers for the 877. Will give them a call and see how much they're looking for it.

Thanks JoePC

FruitLover

BoB_BoT wrote: »

Finally getting to my question, can Netopia routers handle the load (just internet requests, dhcp, firewall, etc.. disabled) for 12 hrs a day, 7 days a week?

Yes, easily.

axer

I wouldnt rely on a netopia router for a business.

Get an 877 and use the Security Device Manager (SDM) web based tool to set it up.

Another option is to flash a linksys wrt54gl with something like dd-wrt and use that. I'm sure it can handle the load. It has built in graphs etc with the dd-wrt firmware that will show you the current load etc. Pretty cool stuff for very cheap.

BoB_BoT

thanks for the replies guys, was looking more at the 877, couldn't see if it used sdm so with your answer axer i'm leaning more towards it. I'm trying out the DD-WRT firmware on one of my own linksys today, fun
Depending on how much eircom are willing to offer the 877s at a "promotional" price may go with the linksys option then.

Thanks again

axer

BoB_BoT wrote: »

thanks for the replies guys, was looking more at the 877, couldn't see if it used sdm so with your answer axer i'm leaning more towards it. I'm trying out the DD-WRT firmware on one of my own linksys today, fun
Depending on how much eircom are willing to offer the 877s at a "promotional" price may go with the linksys option then.

Thanks again

Yes, you can use SDM with the 877.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/secursw/ps5318/index.html

joePC

No real need for the GUI if your going to use a Smoothwall box for all the main services.

Here is the bridge config you'll need, copy and paste and your good to go.

---

version 12.4
no service pad
service timestamps debug datetime msec
service timestamps log datetime msec
no service password-encryption
!
hostname CISCO877
!
boot-start-marker
boot-end-marker
!
!
no aaa new-model
!
resource policy
!
ip subnet-zero
no ip routing
no ip cef
!
interface ATM0
no ip address
no ip route-cache
no atm ilmi-keepalive
pvc 0/35
encapsulation aal5snap
!
dsl operating-mode adsl2+
bridge-group 1
!
interface FastEthernet0
!
interface FastEthernet1
!
interface FastEthernet2
!
interface FastEthernet3
!
interface Vlan1
no ip address
no ip route-cache
bridge-group 1
!
ip classless
!
no ip http server
no ip http secure-server
!
!
control-plane
!
bridge 1 protocol ieee
!
line con 0
no modem enable
line aux 0
line vty 0 4
login
!
scheduler max-task-time 5000

---

Alun

That's a bit mad IMO. Doesn't using something like a Cisco 8xx effectively just as a modem seem just a tad OTT to you ? You're only using 0.01% of it's capabilities. Why not just buy a good quality ADSL2+ modem (Alcatel Speedtouch for example) and connect straight to the smoothwall instead? It'd be a whole lot cheaper for a start.

axer

Alun wrote: »

That's a bit mad IMO. Doesn't using something like a Cisco 8xx effectively just as a modem seem just a tad OTT to you ? You're only using 0.01% of it's capabilities. Why not just buy a good quality ADSL2+ modem (Alcatel Speedtouch for example) and connect straight to the smoothwall instead? It'd be a whole lot cheaper for a start.

I don't think the OP has the smoothwall yet from my understanding.

OP: If you are going to use a smoothwall then I agree with Alun and just get a decent modem.

BoB_BoT

see the idea was either go cisco or to go with another modem and smoothwall as it's essentially going to do the same thing with a few more features. Wouldn't bother with the smoothwall if I went with the cisco tbh. speaking of the cisco877 anyone know how effective it's QOS / traffic shaping is?

joePC

QOS on the 877 works fine, what type of traffic do you want to prioritize?

BoB_BoT

web and gaming, with heavy throttling for peer to peer and torrents. I'm still leaning towards the smoothwall because of the ability to cache stuff and filter sites.

cheers again