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| System Name | Starlifter :: Dragonfly |
|---|---|
| Processor | i7 2600k 4.4GHz :: i5 10400 |
| Motherboard | ASUS P8P67 Pro :: ASUS Prime H570-Plus |
| Cooling | Cryorig M9 :: Stock |
| Memory | 4x4GB DDR3 2133 :: 2x8GB DDR4 2400 |
| Video Card(s) | PNY GTX1070 :: Integrated UHD 630 |
| Storage | Crucial MX500 1TB, 2x1TB Seagate RAID 0 :: Mushkin Enhanced 60GB SSD, 3x4TB Seagate HDD RAID5 |
| Display(s) | Onn 165hz 1080p :: Acer 1080p |
| Case | Antec SOHO 1030B :: Old White Full Tower |
| Audio Device(s) | Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Bose Companion 2 Series III :: None |
| Power Supply | FSP Hydro GE 550w :: EVGA Supernova 550 |
| Software | Windows 10 Pro - Plex Server on Dragonfly |
| Benchmark Scores | >9000 |
I decided to make this thread as a guide to any other users out there who may be considering turning a PC into a router, but don't really know where to look when it comes to actually getting router software.
1. m0n0wall
A fast, pretty easy to use router. Great security features. The only thing I didn't like about it is it lacks a DMZ function that is typically found in most consumer-grade routers, which forwards all ports to a machine unless you set up others in port forwarding. It does, however, have a more secure DMZ function, which involves creating a new subnet to host your servers on, protecting your main LAN from evil hackers.
2. DD-WRT x86
This is a Generic PC version of the DD-WRT firmware, which is generally used on consumer-grade routers. It supports some basic features, and has the DMZ function that forwards all ports to a machine unless told otherwise in port forwarding. It isn't nearly secure as m0n0wall, and doesn't seem to let you play around with the MAC address to change your IP (it may, I just haven't figured it out yet). It's pretty much a basic consumer-grade router running on a much, much faster machine. Take note that the free version does not support wireless NICs, but it won't stop you from adding a separate access point on.
3. ClearOS is a more complicated, more configurable router like m0n0wall. It seems to have more features and looks to be more resource intensive.
Example machine:
This is the setup I'm running my router on: (not the same exact model, but close enough)
IBM IntelliStation E Pro
Pentium 4 1.6GHz
2x128MB PC133 (could probably get away with just one)
512MB CF card as hard drive (soon to be using one of these neat little doodads that plugs right into the port instead of needing a ribbon cable)
100mbit onboard LAN (using this for WAN)
100mbit network card (LAN) -> 8 port 100mbit switch -> two wired PCs and a wireless G AP
Networking equipment aside, even this is super overkill for running routers like m0n0wall and DD-WRT. I'm sure you could get away with even a Pentium Pro with 64MB RAM (although I would recommend at least a Pentium 3 with 128MB RAM, as a Pentium Pro probably isn't going to be much faster than a consumer-grade router anyway).
1. m0n0wall
A fast, pretty easy to use router. Great security features. The only thing I didn't like about it is it lacks a DMZ function that is typically found in most consumer-grade routers, which forwards all ports to a machine unless you set up others in port forwarding. It does, however, have a more secure DMZ function, which involves creating a new subnet to host your servers on, protecting your main LAN from evil hackers.
2. DD-WRT x86
This is a Generic PC version of the DD-WRT firmware, which is generally used on consumer-grade routers. It supports some basic features, and has the DMZ function that forwards all ports to a machine unless told otherwise in port forwarding. It isn't nearly secure as m0n0wall, and doesn't seem to let you play around with the MAC address to change your IP (it may, I just haven't figured it out yet). It's pretty much a basic consumer-grade router running on a much, much faster machine. Take note that the free version does not support wireless NICs, but it won't stop you from adding a separate access point on.
3. ClearOS is a more complicated, more configurable router like m0n0wall. It seems to have more features and looks to be more resource intensive.
Example machine:
This is the setup I'm running my router on: (not the same exact model, but close enough)
IBM IntelliStation E Pro
Pentium 4 1.6GHz
2x128MB PC133 (could probably get away with just one)
512MB CF card as hard drive (soon to be using one of these neat little doodads that plugs right into the port instead of needing a ribbon cable)
100mbit onboard LAN (using this for WAN)
100mbit network card (LAN) -> 8 port 100mbit switch -> two wired PCs and a wireless G AP
Networking equipment aside, even this is super overkill for running routers like m0n0wall and DD-WRT. I'm sure you could get away with even a Pentium Pro with 64MB RAM (although I would recommend at least a Pentium 3 with 128MB RAM, as a Pentium Pro probably isn't going to be much faster than a consumer-grade router anyway).
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