Hi,

I'm planning of building a network with an E1 internet connection. However, buying and using a CISCO router to connect an E1 ckt. is a huge expensive. I don't have enough budget for my lab project.

Thru googling I found several open source OS's. One of my option is implementing an OPENBSD with firewall and NAT capabilities. Then, my second option is using an IPCOP + Firewall + NAT. However, from the examples it only showed DSL connection. My question is:

Does the two OS can handle E1 ckt. and it routes/surf from private workstations going to internet?

What are the differences from using a router (like cisco router) between OPENBSD firewall + NAT and IPCOP firewall + NAT?

Does it really needs a router when connecting from E1?

My propose project if this is posible will be:


ISP E1 connection ---> OPENBSD Firewall w/ NAT -----> My Private Network

I am hoping that I will find an answer on this forum.

Thank you in advanced.

On the 2 OS's, either would be fine for running an E1 circuit. I think the OpenBSD may have had/may still have a better security track record. I'm not positive on this as it's been a while since I've BSD'd. But I think you would get better help/support using a Linux based solution.

That being said, is your ISP providing a router or do you need to provide one? If you must privide one, you'll need to get a line card for the pc/router beastie. You can't just take the line from the smart-jack and plug it into a ethernet card.

Oh and YES, this project is very possible.

No refunds give on my 2 cents worth.

the T1/E1 cards aren't cheap.. add the cost of the PC, and it might be cheaper to buy an used Cisco router from ebay...

Sangoma Single Port E1/T1 card $450.00


CISCO 2611 2E+WIC-1DSU-T1 DSU/CSU 64/16 12.322 IOS 2600 $289 Buy it now
Of course you would need the router to have a WIC-E1 interface but the price should be similar

@docalton and @farslayer

Thank you so much for the inputs you shared.

The end terminal from ISP box is an UTP cable and mounted/jacketed with RJ45. Does it needs a T1/E1 card since it is an ethernet connection? Just asking coz I don't have a wide experience about networking.

If the box in question is provided by your ISP then that is your router. You could then plug that into your NAT firewall box and go on your merry way.

If that comes out of a smart-jack (which is a telco owner piece of equipment with potentially many cables) then you would need a card.

Unforunately telcos can also use cat 5/6 cable with rj45 leads to connect the smart-jack to the isp equipment. That why you should take a quick look to find what the other end is plugged in to to make sure it really is an ethernet connection.

It probably is an ethernet connection, but I'd hate to tell you to just plug it in not knowing. The consequences of plugging it in wrong may be bad.

Hope this helps.

A T1/E1 has high voltage on it and you would not want to plug it into an Ethernet interface.. that would be bad. you would probably let the smoke escape from the electronic circuitry causing it to no longer function :/ cause we all know electronics no longer function once the smoke escapes.

The Telco companies use RJ45 Jacks for those circuits and they will plug right into anm ethernet port... with disasterous results.

I wonder if I can find a picture of a smartjack.. hrm...
typically the phone company will mount a box on the wall with one or more cards in it that look like this
http://www.comtec.ca/images/network/nw-3com-3C13720.jpg

That is a T1/E1 interface and must be connected to a CSU/DSU unit (a Cisco router WIC card has the CSU/DSU built in)

Beware they may mount the smart jack in the telco closet and run an extension to your data center with just a RJ45 jack.. they usually label the jack with the circuit ID number. Make SURE you know what it is before connecting to it..


So that's two of use saying beware and make sure you know what it is before connecting to it

Thank you so much for the great inputs. It really helps

Farslayer
I was looking for a picture of a smart-jack and short of photo'ing ours, I couldn't find one. LOL However I didn't find a picture of a linecard either. My google-fu must be weak. :-)

Good luck guy