>>>>> "JM" == JM <[email protected]> writes:
JM> I'm tired of shopping for the right components on NewEgg only to JM> find that X doesn't talk to Linux well, or that I've got to Dremel JM> out a hole in the back of the case to allow a second ethernet, so JM> time to ask some geeks who've probably bought/built this JM> already... JM> Looking for a small, relatively inexpensive Atom (or similar) JM> that'd be up to snuff running CentOS or Fedora, OpenVPN, and JM> routing and fire walling for about 6 machines. JM> Recommendations? There is the Alix 2d13 from PC Engines, but personally I wouldn't run a full-blow desktop/server distribution on it. Openwrt is small, is linux, has thousands of packages available, is tuned for running on flash storage, is robust against sudden power failures, comes back up in about a minute. OpenWrt on Alix is what Personal Telco uses at its heavy-use sites, and it seldom gets above 5% CPU utilization doing routing, OpenVpn, snmpd and a few other minor services. It uses a 500MHz x86 CPU, the AMD Geode LX800, has 256Meg of RAM soldered on, and three "real" ethernet interfaces, it even has a 44-pin laptop-style IDE port if you really want a spinning platter. And it draws around 5W. Another choice would be one of the Ubiquiti RouterStations, which are not x86, but OpenWrt supports them well. As of a year ago, the case choices weren't as good as for the Alix though. I have a lot of experience with the Alix and with OpenWrt, I'd be happy to learn you some of my teachings. Personal Telco is planning to do a group order from Alix in a few weeks (when they get stock back in). Ordering directly from Zurich tends to be a little cheaper, even with the expensive shipping and 7-10 day shipping time. If you want, maybe you can get in on that? If not, there are domestic suppliers, like Netgate, for example. Google should give you some choices. -- Russell Senior, President [email protected] _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
