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Q: A single-board computer for Router/Firewall project

Former Member

Hi, I am participating in a graduation project in the branch of network security, the goal is to make a LAN consisting of 3 devices: 2 Routers/Firewall devices and 1 sniffer between them. Each of these devices should have the ability to connect to the Internet. Here are some specifications that me and my colleagues managed to gather about the required single-boards:

* WIC: WAN Interface Card.

* 1 USP slot

* HDMI port

* 1 Ethernet port

* 256MB of RAM

* Ubuntu compatible.

May you please recommend  to me some  single-board computers with the above specifications!

I have some experience with Arduino, you write the code on your PC or Laptop and burn it to the Arduino board. What about single-board computers?  Do I connect each of them to a laptop through a specific port? What is the name of this port? And/Or connect it to a keyboard, mouse and a screen directly? What are the names of the ports that enable that connection?

  • * 1 USP slot

    Did you mean USB? 

    If so, do you care about USB 2.0 vs 3.0?

     

    * HDMI port

    Do you really want this?  You would probably be accessing the device over ethernet, using SSH.

    * 1 Ethernet port

    Do you care about10/100 ethernet vs. gigabit?

     

    Do you care what architecture?  x86 vs. ARM?

     

    Do I connect each of them to a laptop through a specific port?

    Usually ethernet, sometimes also USB.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Thank you for the quick response,

    I meant USB of course; USB is used for keyboard and mouse connections, Isn't it? We might use other peripherals as we make progress in the project, I don't really know which type is better!

    I think an HDMI port is needed, because it enables connection to a monitor. Can I use the graphical user interface of ubuntu via SSH?

    I dont't know a specific answer to the last 2 questions. Which is more usable?

  • in reply to Former Member

    I think an HDMI port is needed, because it enables connection to a monitor. Can I use the graphical user interface of ubuntu via SSH?

     

    ssh allows x11 forwarding using the -X option, see:

    http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/12755/how-to-forward-x-over-ssh-from-ubuntu-machine

     

    That means your single-board computer doesn't need a keyboard, mouse, or display.

    USB 3.0 is faster than 2.0, but for just keyboard/mouse it doesn't matter.

    Gigabit ethernet is faster than 10/100 ethernet.  Usually the speed matters on a

    local network, but not so much connecting to a modem.

     

    For ARM vs. x86, x86 is generally more expensive, uses more power,

    runs at a faster speed, is more likely to work with higher-speed USB or ethernet,

    and the OS software is generally more mature and has larger user base. 

    OS software for ARM is often described as work-in-progress.