From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Mar 12 05:38:03 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 41C30106566B for ; Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:38:03 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from subscriber+freebsd@markshroyer.com) Received: from frodo.paleogene.net (frodo.paleogene.net [206.125.175.178]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 284438FC16 for ; Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:38:02 +0000 (UTC) Received: from auth-client.paleogene.net (auth-client.paleogene.net [206.125.175.178]) (Authenticated sender: hidden) by frodo.paleogene.net (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 998963F411 for ; Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:38:02 -0500 (EST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=simple/simple; d=markshroyer.com; s=default; t=1268372282; bh=3c0vM2ltP46IVHH8SJ3WL0d5S65V0TIISjdQn7Yuw3U=; h=Message-ID:Date:From:MIME-Version:To:Subject:References: In-Reply-To:Content-Type:Content-Transfer-Encoding; b=TawPVgLhjbJD0DaUWvB8UaqnwjJGdEi96FWy/CNjRF0Oq0hOtDwhZ1B/9EAf+0pKM hhzCzM63KfWI8Tmx8xFx+MAaAq2g3+jggY8R+Gzk9XJmay5vU7rpxONZF/O2DFM8ll KCeVnwetjdnKzJ19HyI8HXpgoJ/6bti3UQrMrkds= Message-ID: <4B99D335.8010800@markshroyer.com> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:37:57 -0500 From: Mark Shroyer User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.1; en-US; rv:1.9.1.8) Gecko/20100227 Thunderbird/3.0.3 MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <93C575B79E9B01449EBBB084032BC570123208B760@mail.ucwv.edu> <44ocivszcb.fsf@be-well.ilk.org> In-Reply-To: <44ocivszcb.fsf@be-well.ilk.org> X-Enigmail-Version: 1.0.1 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: Replacing Home Router With PC X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:38:03 -0000 On 3/11/2010 9:32 AM, Lowell Gilbert wrote: > mailinglist writes: > >> I've got an old Linksys router hanging off of my cable modem that is >> several years old and is about to die (very poor wireless throughput >> should be 54 mb and is 2, runs hot, and "buzzes" while turned on). >> I've got an older PC that would great as a router....however I also >> need it to be a wireless access point for my house. It has a PCI >> wireless network card (A 54G Belkin, not sure of the exact model). I >> know FreeBSD is technically capable for acting as my DHCP, DNS, >> router, gateway box if properly configured. The question is, can it >> use that wireless card to act as a access point instead of a client >> (how the card is intended to be used)? >> >> Also, any links anyone can provide on how to setup a FreeBSD box to >> act as home router/gateway would be much appreciated! > > Bear in mind that the added electricity costs will more than cover the > cost of a new Linksys (or equivalent) router in a few months. If energy consumption is a concern, you might try one of these: http://www.pcengines.ch/alix2d3.htm I've been running OpenBSD on mine for a year or so, and it makes an absolutely fantastic home router. It'll run FreeBSD, too. Uses about 5 watts. My one caveat is that you may want to solder on an RTC battery (CR2032) holder--or just pay a little extra for the alix2d13, which includes the holder, if you don't like soldering things. -- Mark Shroyer http://markshroyer.com/contact/