Need a router/ap/server solution

[belinik]

for the past 2 years I went thru a dir-655, a wrt54gl and right now running on a wl520(dd-wrt). All of them have trouble staying alive as soon as anyone run p2p application(be it downloading stuff.... streaming video or patching games). I used to run a windows 2003 SBS server and used that as router but the bloody server is too big(it's a dell tower server with dual cpu xeon with dual psu). I personally do not wish to use ICS function.

Also tried to explore mikrotik's route but I can't seem to get the damm thing to work on teksavvy!

network size:
4 desktop(1 htpc, 1 always on), 2 laptop(1 always on steaming video.... wireless)
ps3, wii on wireless, 360
1 wired surveillance system

So right now I have a Q6600 sleeping beside me.... and I want to turn that into the router/server solution, but I don't know what operating system should I go after...

what I need:
- NAT, firewall, MLPPP
- Wireless (I have a wlan card with master mode)
- QoS (best if I can use speed limit like the one in mikrotik)
- Asterisk
- VPN server
- ability to run a few VM


I tried explore windows 2008 but I can't seem to get wireless ap working, and I thought of running linux route but the amount of distro avb. is very overwhelming and I got no clue which one can fit my need. I have very limited linux knowledge but I think I can get by.

[JD]

Why not just get a decent DD-WRT router and then just use this PC + Server 2008 for running your VMs?

I have the ASUS RT-N16 with the latest BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2 build and it's been running like a champ. I do run torrents as well, but not like I can get a ton of connections with only 5Mbps/800Kbps. Don't think DD-WRT supports MLPPP (if your using single link, maybe dual-link tho), so you'd probably have to look into Tomato.

pfSense is a great router distribution based on FreeBSD. Doesn't need that kind of computer though, and it doesn't support MLPPP.

[belinik]

windows 2008 is not licensed for production environment, my WRT54-GL was using DD-WRT and WL520GU is running tomato

Problem is the router can barely handle p2p, if I drop a vpn line or try to use VOIP on top the unit just gives up. I am aware DSL are not full duplex but I am nowhere to 50% of the line speed(of the speed test) I tried to limit connections and it may work(with very high cpu load). Due to there are constant load 24/7/365 I suspect these stuff gives in faster then normal. By the time these add up I can purchase a low end computer(yes I am aware of the high power consumption but that's why I try to merge all these function under 1 box.)

and btw.. I recall reading in DSLR that dd-wrt is supporting mlppp on beta(or there is a workaround..... don't remember)

[JD]

Well the RT-N16 is a pretty beefy router, 128MB RAM, 480MHz CPU, 32MB Flash. So if DD-WRT does what you want, I think the RT-N16 could handle the load, or a router with similar specs.

However I think your just asking for a little too much out of a DSL line. Sounds like you've got a business going basically, so maybe it's time to look into some better Internet options.

I suppose another choice would be to run like VMWare ESX on the Q6600 and have a bunch of various VM "appliances" on there performing each function.

[kingnubian]

Originally Posted by jdrom17

Well the RT-N16 is a pretty beefy router, 128MB RAM, 480MHz CPU, 32MB Flash. So if DD-WRT does what you want, I think the RT-N16 could handle the load, or a router with similar specs.

However I think your just asking for a little too much out of a DSL line. Sounds like you've got a business going basically, so maybe it's time to look into some better Internet options.

I suppose another choice would be to run like VMWare ESX on the Q6600 and have a bunch of various VM "appliances" on there performing each function.

Agreed but also seriously check out Xenserver 5.5 or Proxmox, both excellent bare metal Hypervisors.