Embedded Linux VPN Router Near Release
An anonymous reader writes "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. It is based on a dual-NIC VIA EPIA mainboard and a Travla case, along with Red Hat 8, zebra, FreeS/WAN, IP-tables, an other open source software, all compiled from source."
It is based on a dual-NIC VIA EPIA mainboard and a Travla case, along with Red Hat 8, zebra, FreeS/WAN, IP-tables...
Yes.
Soekris
According to the "tech details" page it's shipping with the Poptop pptp server...
...the Linux Router Project, a floppy-based 386-compatible micro-distro which served as the basis for (among other things) Coyote Linux.
Custom firmware for the wrt54g does/will do pretty much the same thing. Progress is very quick. See the forum here:
sveasoft
It actually predates Shiva.
It was developed by Infocrypt, which Shiva bought, and Shiva was in turn eaten by Intel.
SST is legacy, as LANRovers have had IPSEC support since at least version 6.7.
If your company doesn't use IPSec, it's probably going to get left behind when Intel finally dumps the old and crufty SST protocol.
"You've got an invalid haircut" -Warren Zevon - Life'll Kill Ya
WRV54G has max of 50 users. That might be a big deal for them, might not.
If you blog it...
Indeed, export of cryptographic technology from USA is hampered with strong restrictions. So many Open Source projects are quite careful to avoid breaking laws by having (much) development done outside USA, and also letting release builds be done outside US as well.
For instance, OpenBSD has offered strong encryption for several years. The OpenBSD project is located in Canada, and a lot of development/release builds are done outside US. As Integrated Crypto shows :
..make sure that you have read this
Discusses some serious considerations before deciding to use ipsec and ike. And since ipsec/ike is the only serious solution in many cases, these concerns should not be taken lightly. For example did you know that the ike implementation in 2000/XP simply checks the signer of the servers certificate and not the actual identity that is signed? This means that any other user with a certificate which is signed by the same authority as you can impersonate the server.
The article is very lengthy, I know, but definitely worth your time.
The Realtek NE2000 compatable nic is NOT the same as the Realtek 8139. Typically the realtek ne2000 is an 8029. Very different chip.
Desperation is a stinky cologne