In addition to complete IP routing services and a built in TELNET and FTP daemon, it supports Network Address Translation (NAT) or "IP masquerading" in the Linux context. (Jacco de Leeuw's "Connecting a LAN to the Internet" has a good explanation of the concept and mechanism behind IP masquerading, along with some additional links on the subject.) The current release, v1.18, has added support for RADIUS authentication, to allow use as a dial in access server, and other features.

Almost any 286/386-class PC hardware can provide the platform, allowing one to make use of surplus equipment most people have "in the closet". We have tested IPRoute with a variety of hardware including:

• an obsolete NCR 386sx-16 Single Board system
• an obsolete ZEOS 386sx-20
• an old Cyrix 486dx2-80
• and a Intel 486dx4-100

Dave's package is very flexible and once set up can essentially be forgotten. The system can be configured with a simple floppy as the load medium and does not require a hard drive, in fact a hard drive simply introduces another failure point. Once up and running, IPRoute can operate without a keyboard or monitor if the hardware BIOS will allow that.

Thus far we have put together several combinations including:

• A Ethernet+Wireless to DSL Router with NAT
• A Ethernet to ISDN or Modem Router with NAT
• A Ethernet to ISDN or Modem Router with NAT and Autoanswer
• A Ethernet+Wireless LAN to ISDN Router with NAT
• A Basic Ethernet to Ethernet Router
• A Multiport Serial Dial In to Ethernet Router

• Dave Mischler - IPRoute Home Site
• Eric Johannson - Notes on IPRoute
• Jacco de Leeuw - Connecting a LAN to the Internet
• Sean Sosik-Hamor - IPRoute: A Router for the Rest of Us!