[Leaplist] reduced energy router (was: Model DL085 Solo T1 DSU/CSU)

[Randall Perry]

On 1/7/08, Jason Boxman <jasonb at edseek.com> wrote:
> On Wednesday 02 January 2008 00:11, Randall Perry wrote:
> <snipf>
> > throw in transparent proxying and VPN.  Well, rather than upgrade to
> > more expensive Cisco line of router, I switch to commodity PC
> > hardware.  For $250 I have a complete new PC server running linux with
> > plenty of RAM and processing speed to-boot.  I have been running these
> > hombuilt routers since the late 90's and they keep going and going.
> > On a couple of them, I have replace the minitower cases with those
> > mini-atx desktop boxes.
>
> Yes, I have a commodity PC box handing my routing as well.  But of late, I
> worry over the wasted power and unnecessary heat generated by the unit.
>
> Anyone have any thoughts on reducing the power footprint of their router
> setup?  I had a WRT54G V3 once, but it crashed when I hit the CPU to 100%
> trying to do OpenVPN on it.  So, I moved back to regular PC hardware.
>
> Thanks.

You can use an original xbox and throw Linux on it.
I usually buy 'broken' ones off eBay or locally for $20-$45.
I only use them for media servers (gentoo Linux), but I suppose you
could add a second ethernet nic through USB and then use it for
routing.
90 watt PSU. Mobile Celeron at 733MHz with 64MB RAM (you can take it
up to 128MB).
You can also control the fan speed through the mobo.
It can get pretty warm without proper circulation (especially if you
add a 7200RPM drive).

And then when you are done, custom paint it!

*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.
    Randall Perry