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#1 2012-09-05 02:19:31
- beaconfield
- Member
- Registered: 2011-03-02
- Posts: 6
Using Arch as a home Internet Firewall/Gateway
I'm thinking about setting up Arch as a firewall/router/gateway/DHCP server for my home network. I'm interested because I love Linux and I hate my wireless AP/Router and virtually all AP/Routers. I'd have a lot more geek control if I did everything myself. Naturally, I'm thinking about building a small form factor machine and installing a minimalist Linux-based OS on it. Arch seems like it'll do the trick.
My "Arch Firewall" will physically sit between my cable modem and the LAN with the LAN ethernet port connecting to an 8 port HP gig switch I have. Logically it'll be a firewall (iptables), router, DHCP server (dnsmasq).
Question for the community: has anyone else done this? What challenges did you find? What worked well?
Let me know, thanks much!
"Can't sleep. Must compile kernel." - XKCD 456
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#2 2012-09-05 02:23:56
- 2ManyDogs
- Forum Fellow
- Registered: 2012-01-15
- Posts: 4,648
Re: Using Arch as a home Internet Firewall/Gateway
I have not done this, so my opinion is probably not worth much, but I'm curious why you would want to use Arch, a rolling-release distro with higher-than-average maintenance requirements, for an application like this? It seems like Debian stable (or something like it) would be better. You can install a very minimal Debian system using the netinstall iso.
Last edited by 2ManyDogs (2012-09-05 02:24:11)
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#3 2012-09-05 02:36:04
- beaconfield
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- Registered: 2011-03-02
- Posts: 6
Re: Using Arch as a home Internet Firewall/Gateway
I have not done this, so my opinion is probably not worth much, but I'm curious why you would want to use Arch, a rolling-release distro with higher-than-average maintenance requirements, for an application like this? It seems like Debian stable (or something like it) would be better. You can install a very minimal Debian system using the netinstall iso.
Actually, I forgot to even ask the question, but it's on my mind. Is Arch the best distro? Doesn't seem like it is. I've also considered OpenBSD because it seems like a very stable, security-minded OS. I've never considered Debian because I'm not a fan of Ubuntu or other Debian-based distros.
OpenBSD? Debian? Others?
"Can't sleep. Must compile kernel." - XKCD 456
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#4 2012-09-05 02:40:29
- beaconfield
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- Registered: 2011-03-02
- Posts: 6
Re: Using Arch as a home Internet Firewall/Gateway
This might be good...
"Can't sleep. Must compile kernel." - XKCD 456
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#5 2012-09-05 06:00:26
- tomk
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- From: Ireland
- Registered: 2004-07-21
- Posts: 9,839
Re: Using Arch as a home Internet Firewall/Gateway
I'd go for IPCop, or one of the other similar purpose-built distros. I've used IPCop and Smoothwall at various times, and I've heard good stuff about pfSense and m0n0wall.
Of course, if you're looking forward to the whole business of building it yourself, you can ignore this post. 
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#6 2012-09-05 23:34:56
- fukawi2
- Ex-Administratorino
- From: .vic.au
- Registered: 2007-09-28
- Posts: 6,237
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Re: Using Arch as a home Internet Firewall/Gateway
I would second the opinion of using a more stable distribution. Your router/firewall is vital in making sure you have access to the Googles when Arch breaks, so if your router/firewall is the thing that's broken, it makes life harder. It needs to just hum along and do it's thing; play and learn on something that doesn't have as much impact when it breaks.
I personally use CentOS for the task, both at home and work.
Last edited by fukawi2 (2012-09-05 23:35:05)
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