I am running a small internet cafe at the moment and we just got a t1. We own a range of public ips and want our machines to use those public ips. Right now our plan is to have our network configured in this fashion: Gateway(ie t1 router, I have no access to this) > Firewall > Switch > PCs. Can I do this with Linux?

Also can I also set bandwidth caps?

Thanks in advance.

I gotta ask why you want public IPs ? for everybody. You should be using NAT network address translation. Next Linux is great but a hardwire firewall is easier. I use a watchguard 500 (max 250 users) myself, probably plenty for what you are planning to do with it. Watchguard=Linux anyway

If you want Linux, the Mandrake version 9.2 has an easy config for firewall share internet connection.

There is always a CISCO PIX 506E for your needs. Not easy to configure but it does everything.

I have a few of these running also. Great piece of hardware.

yes you can setup a fairly robust firewall using your favorite flavor of linux. As for bandwidth throttling, you can do that too depending on what it is you are try to control.

So teh standard Linux "enable firewall is sufficient as a pretty decent firewall?

it's good for "out of the box", but I would suggest customizing it for your needs. If you are protecting corporate assets you will need to do more than the default.