Re: FreeBSD Question (So I decided to make a router out of an old computer...)

From: Torfinn Ingolfsen (tingo_at_start.no)
Date: 03/20/04 

Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2004 20:53:22 +0100

Artem Simonov wrote:
> I am very curious about which version of FreeBSD I should install.

Install FreeBSD 4.9-release, and upgrade to -stable after the machine is
  installed. Why choose 4.9-R over 5.2.1-R? Because your machine will be
a router, and needs all the extra stabilty that it can get.
Why upgrade to -stable? Because the machine will be connectded to the
internet, and needs all the latest security fixes, and -stable is the
easiest way to get most of them.

> I need suggestions and any tips that you can give me will help.

Read the documentation available at www.freebsd.org, specially the FAQ
and the Handbook. Then read it again, because there are many hints there
that you will forget the first time.
Be sure to check the hardware section, to see that all your hardware is
supported. or just boot the installation floppies, abd read the boot
messages.

> Here are the specs of the old computer:
>
> Pentium 233Mhz
> RAM: 32Mb

More than good enough to run a router and firewall on.
It will run your web server also, as long as you don't have too much
traffic.

> NIC: has 8 ports

Hmm, you must check this. There are not a lot of 8-port NICS in the
supported hardware list.

> HDD: about 2Gb, give or take

Enough. Note: if you use "auto" disk partitioning, your swap space will
end up as 64MB (twice your RAM size), and this can bee to small. I
suggest you use auto first, to see what sizes the installer suggests,
and then you change swap to 128MB (take the space from /usr for
example). This way, you will avoid runing out of swap. Bad things
happens to processes if the machine runs out of swap. ;-)

> Floppy Drive: present
> CD-ROM - can be added, in theory

If you have a permanent connection to the internet, installation over
the net works fine. If you are on a dial-up connection, it could be
better to install from a CD.

> I'll be awaiting your suggestions....

I suggest that you subscribe to the FreeBSD-stable mailing list when you
have installed 4.9-stable. Reading (or browsing) the list will keep you
informed about any changes or problems that might creep up.

Good luck! 

-- 
Torfinn Ingolfsen,
Norway

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