what os for a router

[Lurch]

I got an old 200mhz pc and a couple of spare network cards so i want to use it for a router, what operating system should i use on it to give me the best/most secure connection?

PS. I alredy have a hub so will be pluggin it into that to share the internet.

[Gubs]

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?threadid=2311

Summary: probably ClarkConnect (http://www.clarkconnect.org/)

[Moby-Dick]

as above - clark connect if the best if you want to run extra services such as a web server from your router/gateway machine

if you just want a pure firewall/router , then smoothwall is probably better.

[ingouk]

gibraltar. runs from the CD and got the config stored on a floppy. once configured, write protect the floppy disk and noone can change your config. if your firewall gets compromised, just reboot from cd.
doesn;t need a hdd. just a couple of NIC's FDD, CDROM

or go with clarkconnect like moy was suggesting. if you wanna install other software, you can easily use redhat RPM's. if you want a more advanced fireall look at astaro.org i thin its still free for personal use.

[lampPost]

IPCop is pretty much Smoothwall but with a few extra features, you might want to check that out also.

[Lurch]

thanks, i had a look at ipcop, but as thier web site got hacked it dint give me much confidence in it, so i went for smoothwall.

it easy to set up and configure, and looks to be as safe as they come, now all i gotta do is work out what ssh does

[eldren]

SSH is Secure SHell, a replacement for RSH, Remote SHell. It allows you to log into a system's console (/ command-line shell) from a remote computer securely, using SSL encryption. Assuming, of course, that the system is running a SSH server.

[5lab]

i used to run win95/winroute pro on a 486/75 laptop. was easy as hell to set up (before people were really into net sharing) and meant i could easily add more services like a print server. never got broken into, and had a 6 month uptime when i moved house

[Lurch]

ahh i see, so SSH allows secure remote access to the guts of the system to add packages and make changes, that what your saying?

[Joel]

smootwall is nice and secure... clarconnect sacrifices security for features.....