By John Geralds, VNU
Net
A group of US-based engineers has developed a way of
enabling businesses to turn their old PCs into Linux systems and
networking devices.
The Linux Router Project (LRP) is distributing free software
that enables outdated machines to act as routers or firewalls by
distilling the contents of the open source operating system.
The software takes up less than 2Mb of memory and can fit on a
floppy disk. A hard drive is not required, said one of the
developers.
The software is available for download at LRP’s website and
there are no other costs involved other than time, said James
Troutman, a contributor to the project and a principal at network
consulting company Troutman & Associates.
Transforming old PCs into Linux systems or networking devices is
not difficult, although general knowledge of networks helps, he
said. “This is something that is geared for someone who has a good
idea of how networks work. But it is not difficult to set up a
personal router at home.
“There is a web-based project that a guy in the Netherlands has
put together called LRP Jet. At the web page, lrp.c0wz.com, you can
specify how many ethernet interfaces you have and whether you have
a modem, and the site gives you all the files you need and walks
you through the creation of a router.”
Bret Berger, an engineer with real-time database access firm
Stonefly Technology, has found a number of uses for retired PCs and
said the main benefit is cost.
“A lot of projects I have wouldn’t take off if I had to spend
$2000 on a Cisco router. But if I can throw together some throwaway
hardware and a little time with the LRP [software] they probably
will,” he said.