[plug] ADSL modem/switch

[Craig Ringer]

> See, I've got a home network (Linux box + WinXP box) and I'd like them
> both to be able to access the net at the same time, preferrably without
> necessitating one of them to be switched on for the other to be online.
> I realise I need 2 things: an adsl modem and an ethernet switch.

Actually, you can get DSL Modem/routers with built in switch - and if 
you want the quick + easy way, they're the way to go. I've got a 
(somewhat pricey, but excellent) Alcaltel SpeedTouch Pro, and would 
happily reccomend them. It deals with line conditions our D-Link DSL-300 
(what WestNet originally supplied) totally failed to handle.

Of course, I turned off all the router functions etc in my Alcatel to 
turn it into a (good quality) bridge from a DSL line to ethernet, then 
ran pppoe etc on my firewall. That way it's easy to manage incoming ssh, 
complex firewall rules, etc.

> However, poking around on everythinglinux.com.au I found the Pulsar PCI
> adsl modem. (http://www.everythinglinux.com.au/item/pulsarpci) (If I'm
> not mistaken, the Linux driver for the device is maintained by Guy Ellis
> - http://www.cantech.net.au/plug/2002-12/msg00085.html) Traverse
> Technologies' docs on the device
> (http://www.traverse.com.au/products/default.asp?p=8) seem quite
> impressive - low power consumption, low CPU overhead, support for PPPoE
> *and* PPPoA...

Honestly, I'd steer clear of PCI ADSL cards until/unless there are a few 
with nice, well tested + maintained drivers that are widely used. I've 
rarely heard good things - you know, unstable, slow, hard to get 
working, etc. If you want cheap, get a basic external ethernet DSL modem 
and a $8 NIC - USB DSL modems are equally dodgy from what I've heard 
(and not just under Linux).

> Does anyone have any recommendations or tips on the subject of building
> the custom gateway/switch box? :)

Don't get $8 NICs ;-)

If you want to be routing traffic, you'll probably want good NICs - 
3com, or Intel. Certainly if you want to try to use things like fast 
switching on the internal LAN.

In the long run, picking up an 8 port ethernet switch costs little, and 
it's always handy to have.

> - Any objections to doing it the custom way?

Time, effort, and a PCI DSL modem.

> - Anyone know of some way of estimating the power usage of such a custom
> setup?

A fair bit, certainly if you're using a standard P166 machine with a HDD 
or two. If you take an old OEM box and drop in a laptop HDD or 
something, you might get a quiet and low-ish power machine, but with a 
standard setup you can expect a not insignificant draw. Enough to matter 
if you're running it 24/7 (and you will be....).

> - Any comments on the 3 modem/switch devices I mentioned above?

Look into Alcatel too. They're pricey, but very good. I've had the 
"home" model (just a 'modem', not a router) going at work (amusingly) 
for about 18 months, and I've /never/ had an issue with it. I tend to 
forget it's there. Whenever our net connection falters, it's because 
iiNet is down (again).