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Date:      Thu, 20 Apr 2000 20:16:02 +0100
From:      Ben Smithurst <ben@scientia.demon.co.uk>
To:        Jerry Lei <tylei@hotmail.com>
Cc:        freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org
Subject:   Re: set FreeBSD as a router
Message-ID:  <20000420201602.F42478@strontium.scientia.demon.co.uk>
In-Reply-To: <20000420173429.9342.qmail@hotmail.com>
References:  <20000420173429.9342.qmail@hotmail.com>

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Jerry Lei wrote:

> I tried to setup one of my FreeBSD as a router. Therefore, I need an
> additional NIC to make my FreeBSD to be a multi-homed host. However,
> I have a question about it. Usually we use crossover UTP to connect
> hubs and routers.  If I just buy a regular NIC and add in my computer
> to make it as a router, then the UTP cable which connect to this
> multi-homed computer (suppose to be a router) and hub is still
> straight.  Is that correct?

Yes, a straight cable is what you need, unless you're connecting the NIC
directly to another NIC.

> Or I miss some part to achieve my plan? for example,
> 1. maybe I need different kind of NIC to make a host like a router?

No.

> 2. maybe it's a stupid and crazy idea to make a computer to be a router?

Not at all.  I have a FreeBSD router right here, admittedly it's only
routing between one NIC and the modem but it's still a router... the
principle is the same.

You can't just add the second network card and have it work straight
away, you need to explicitly enable packet forwarding first.  This
is simple on FreeBSD though.  Just set gateway_enable="YES" in
/etc/rc.conf and either use the Windows way (reboot) or the Right
way (run the appropriate commands yourself, in this case 'sysctl -w
net.inet.ip.forwarding=1', as root).

-- 
Ben Smithurst / ben@scientia.demon.co.uk / PGP: 0x99392F7D


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