Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 14:23:21 -0500 From: "Andrew C. Hornback" <achornback@worldnet.att.net> To: "Anthony Atkielski" <anthony@atkielski.com>, "FreeBSD Questions" <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: RE: DSL PPPoE with 2 NICs Message-ID: <006301c16e0a$fca53ba0$6600000a@ach.domain> In-Reply-To: <006601c16dbe$d666ce00$0a00000a@atkielski.com>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
> -----Original Message----- > From: owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG > [mailto:owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG]On Behalf Of Anthony > Atkielski > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 5:18 AM > To: Andrew C. Hornback; FreeBSD Questions > Subject: Re: DSL PPPoE with 2 NICs > > Andrew writes: > > > $100 for a router that may or may not ever have > > security updates or $20 for a NIC in a machine > > that you've already got and are ready to configure > > and use as a gateway. > > You're assuming that time costs nothing. But if time costs $100 > an hour--which > is a realistic figure--than installing a router is far cheaper > than using a > machine as a gateway. Additionally, routers are far less likely to _need_ > security updates, since their function is so simple to begin > with. If they need > them, uploading new firmware is usually pretty easy. If $100/hr is a realistic figure, where do I sign up? I'd like to get onto that gravy train... Security happens to matter to some of us, and I get the feeling that it would be easier to report and fix a problem in FreeBSD than it would be to get a fix produced for a router-toaster. > > And while I'm at it, not to harp on things here, > > but Anthony, you've previously admitted that you're > > new at FreeBSD. > > That doesn't change the numbers above. Unless this is a personal > hobby of his, > he is better off doing whatever is most cost-effective, and if the FreeBSD > machine cannot be configured rapidly and securely as a gateway, > then just going > out to the nearest computer store and buying a router is more economical. Simply because you could not configure a FreeBSD machine "rapidly and securely" does not mean that someone else could. > > Your dissatisfaction at not being able to configure > > your system to fit your application may have something > > to do with your relative inexperience with the system > > itself. > > Then again it may not. Configuring an entire OS to serve as a > router is a lot > more complicated than just installing the router. I see... so that's why so many people out there are rushing to toss out their FreeBSD-powered routers for pieces from our friends at Cisco, etc. ? > I originally > tried this just > to learn something, but it soon became apparent that it wasn't > going to be easy, > and it was even less likely to be secure. Again, you're interjecting your opinon here. It may not be easy for someone who is new to FreeBSD, but you are basing your assertion on the idea that everyone that uses FreeBSD has the same skill level with it that you do. That, I can assure you, is NOT the case. > Everything I had read > recommended a > hardware router to begin with, so I finally took the advice and > installed one. Makes one wonder what you've been reading... > It is not clear to me what advantage I would gain by using the > FreeBSD system as > the gateway, apart from saving $100 on a router (and even that > isn't necessarily > true, if I have to buy another NIC). Again, your lack of experience with FreeBSD is showing. Most people realize that a FreeBSD machine as a router for a small LAN makes good sense as it is easier to maintain, easier to upgrade and easier to keep secure. > Building an efficient IT infrastructure requires avoiding any emotional > attachment to any particular software, hardware, or configuration. And once again, you're interjecting your personal attack that I am attached personally to FreeBSD. That is not the case. I simply care to use the best tool for the job, and a $100 router which can be replaced by a $20 NIC and a $20 PC... well, you do the math. --- Andy To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?006301c16e0a$fca53ba0$6600000a>