A new open source project aims to build a VPN router that supports all major routing protocols on a standardized hardware platform running embedded Linux. The “Linux Router Project – LR101” started in mid-2003 and plans a first release in January 2004.

(Click for slightly larger view of Via Epia CL motherboard)

The project is based on the dual-onboard NIC VIA Epia CL10000/6000 motherboard with a Travla C137 case and RealTek/NE2000 compatible NICs for the DMZ (de-militarized zone) port.

Travla C137 case, front and back views

On the software side, the project uses FreeS/WAN for VPN (Virtual Private Network) support, and IP-Tables for packet-based firewalling. System software and libraries are based on Red Hat 8, with everything compiled from source. Additional software includes:

• Basic GNU Tools
• Apache HTTP Service
• OpenSSH Service
• FreeS/WAN for VPN
• IP-Tables for stateful firewalling
• iproute2 for powerful routing capabilities
• zebra for ospf and bgp routing
• lrconfig for configuring your LR101 device
  (this is a dialog based configuration interface – especially programmed for the LR101)
• isdn4linux for your ISDN Interface ( needed for ISDN Failover)

More information about the project, which is not related to the now defunct Linex Router Project, can be found here.

 
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