Questions: Splitting bandwidth across accounts with a linux box

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Flint

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Hi all, I recently got my hands on an ancient machine that might serve nicely to route data between local and international accounts on my home network (two additional PC's and an Xbox 360), but I have a few questions:
Specs
This machine has a 900Mhz processor and 64Mb ram, considering it will just be a router I assume this should be sufficient?

Linux distribution
Considering the lightweight machine-and the fact that I'd like this to be as painless as possible, what distribution should I go for? I have an Ubuntu install disk, but I know the 'visual' version is pretty memory hungry, would the commandline only version do the job? I also looked at Damn Small Linux which will definitely be ok on those specs, but I just don't know how much uphill I'll have getting the routing going on it.

Required network hardware
I have one of the integrated modem/router/aps that come with the telkom self install kit. From what I understand from this thread:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=64649
I shouldn't need more than one nic in the linux box, but will have to set the other machines (also connected to the router) to route through this box, is this correct?

Getting started
Last, but certainly not least (and probably most embarrasing), it has been a LONG while since I have had to use linux, and I am certainly not accustomed to setting this sort of thing up on it-which would be the best recommended source step by step instructions on setting this up?

Extra credit..
To anyone that can confirm whether the Xbox 360 will be able to connect through this setup, and give me any pointers on getting it going.

And a distinction..
If you can give me an idea of whether any sort of media sharing option would be possible in this situation. I have a spare 60Gig hdd lying around and I'd love to have this box act as a media hub for the other three machines as well.
 
Flint - try one of the linux distros that are designed for this.

Ipcop, pfsense etc. They are light weight and have all the front ends designed to accomplish things easily.

In any case, worth a look, and no loss if you decide against it.
 
Thanks, I'll check it out. I have no preferences at all WRT which distro to use-basically whatever works and is the easiest to set up :)
 
Flint said:
Thanks, I'll check it out. I have no preferences at all WRT which distro to use-basically whatever works and is the easiest to set up :)
Click to expand...

AFAIR, ipcop does not allow multiple PPPoE, but pfsense does.
I may well be wrong.
 
@Jongi- thanks I'm aware of that thread, I linked to it in my post, I was hoping for something a little more dummy proof though ;) I suppose there's no such thing when it comes to linux.

@Moederloos- The thread I linked to and Jongi mentioned specifically deals with splitting traffic use on IpCop. Is pfsense perhaps an easier approach? As mentioned before I have no specific preference except to keep things as easy as possible.
 
Should have at least checked the link :o

in this regard i would be surprised if you were to find a more dummy proof method.
 
Thanks for the link in any case ;) My (brief) research has turned up some promising options with regard to the Media Sharing a well, I just hope these scaled down distributions will be suitable for those apps as well.
 
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