Neoklis wrote:
Hi all,
I have opened an account with an ISP that provides me with a fixed IP
address and this tempts me to set up a micro server at home for my
website etc. I must confess I am a Linux user but consider OpenBSD
the best choice for a secure server, so will install soon on my desktop
to learn and then install on a suitable device.
I have searched the web extensively and seems that a Soekris device
might be suitable, however I have no experience in this type of device
or running a web server or router so with apologies I post this article
hoping for advice on the following:
Can I use a Soekris board to run the OpenBSD+Apache web server and
put my web site on line from home? Which is most suitable?
I would like (must!) share my ADSL line with at least the web server and
my desktop and possibly a laptop. The ADSL modem has an Ethernet
connection and I wonder, could I use the Soekris board to act as a router,
preferably wireless, as well as running the server?
My thanks in advance!
CAN you do those things? Sure.
SHOULD you? I wouldn't recommend it.
If you are a relative new user of OpenBSD, get a normal, used, computer.
You should be able to pick up a 400MHz i386 machine for just about
free. You will find it considerably more "normal" than a Soekris board,
and while yes, it will draw more electricity, you will probably be able
to run it for a couple years before the electricity costs you what the
Soekris costs to purchase.
You can learn OpenBSD, learn what you wish to do with the system, and
become more familiar with OpenBSD before you try to tackle a somewhat
"different" system. Trying to learn a system you haven't worked with at
the same time you are learning an OS you haven't worked much with could
be very frustrating.
Plus, if you wish to do PPPoE, you may find the Soekris machines
horribly underpowered.
Nick.
