fli4l documentation - Introduction

Introduction

Copyright (c) 2000-2001 Frank Meyer

##### :::[ Features ][ Router ][ Ethernet ][ DSL ][ ISDN ][ Optional program packages ][ Hardware requirements ][ Remarks ]:::

FLI4L is a Linux-based ISDN-, DSL- and Ethernet router, which only needs ONE floppy disk to work. Sufficient hardware would be a 486 PC with 16 MB of RAM.

The boot disk, which is essential for FLI4L, may be generated under Unix, Linux or Windows. You will not need any knowledge of Linux itself to do so - but itīs no fault to have any knowledge about Linux or Unix. Base knowledge about networking, TCP/IP, DNS and routing should be available. If you want to enlarge the functionality of FLI4L with your own development, you will need a working Linux system and additionally knowledge about/of Unix/Linux.

Since version 2.0 FLI4L "officially" supports other boot media than floppy disks. Now itīs possible to install more software packages on the FLI4L router; more than there would have been if only a floppy disk can be used.
Before you begin to create a FLI4L installation for hard disk or compact flash media, you should already have successfully installed a "standard" floppy disk configuration as a base installation.
Most optional software packages (OPT packages) may already be available if only a floppy disk installation had been created. Therefor it may only be necessary to use a hard disk if you want to install the whole software palette, available for FLI4L.

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#### Features:

- Creation of a boot floppy disk under Linux, Unix and Windows
- Configuration by using a single ASCII file
- Support for IP masquerading and port forwarding
- Least-Cost-Routing: automatical selection of provider - depending on (day) time
- Display/calculation/protocol of connect times and costs
- Windows/Unix/Linux client imonc incl. interface to imond and telmond
- Upload of new configuration data/files via Windows client imonc
- Boot floppy disk with vfat file system for permanent storage of files
- Support for 1680kB floppy disks
- Packet filter: Logging of remote access to restricted/denied ports
- Consistent implementation of WAN interfaces via (so called) circuits
- Operation/Routing of ISDN and DSL circuits is possible in parallel

see also...

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#### Router:

- Linux kernel 2.2.19
- Packet filter and IP masquerading (for security of/in FLI4L see chapter: Appendix)
- DNS server, to avoid access of Windows PCs to WAN for most of their requests
- Networking capability for imond server with monitor and LCR control function
- Networking capability for telmond server for output of incoming telephone calls

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#### Ethernet Support:

- Actual network adaptor drivers: Support for more than 40 adaptor families

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#### DSL-Support:

- Roaring Penguin PPPoE driver; with Dial-on-Demand (de-selectable)
- PPTP for DSL connections in Austria and the Netherlands (EXPERIMENTAL)

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#### ISDN support:

- Actual HiSaX drivers: Support for 37 ISDN adaptor types
- Several ISDN connection variants: in/out/callback, raw-ip/ppp
- Channel combination: automatic bandwidth selection or manual
- selection of the 2nd channel via Windows/Unix client
- optional IPX routing

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#### Optional program packages:

- DNS server
- DHCP server
- SSH login
- Telnet and/or FTP Service
- Simple online/offline Display via LED
- LCD display program with changeable output format
- Serial console as option (how-to see: Appendix)
- Mini web server for monitoring
- IPSEC modules ipsec and pptp
- Restricted access for spec. networks from remote
- PCMCIA support (EXPERIMENTAL)
- Protocol of system messages:: syslogd und klogd
- Configuration of ISA-PNP-adaptors: isapnp tools
- Additional tools for debugging
- Configuration of serial port
- Emergency system for remote control via ISDN
- LCD display as monitor: Display for connections and connection data
- PPP server/router via serial port
- ISDN modem emulator via serial port
- print server
- Access to time server for synchronisation of time in the network
- Execution of commands/procedures when a telephone call occurs (ex.: internet dial-in)
- Support for IP aliasing (more than one IP address on one network adaptor)

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#### Hardware requirements:

- ISDN: '386 CPU from 25 MHz, recomm.: '486 from 33 MHz
- DSL: '486 CPU from DX2/66, recomm.: '486 DX4/100 or Pentium from 75 MHz
- 8 MB memory, recomm. 16 MB
- Ethernet network adaptor (support for more than 40 different adaptor families)
- ISDN: ISDN adaptor supported by HiSax (Typ 1-37), AVM-B1 ISA/PCI or ICN-2B
- No drives, except floppy disk drive
- 1 boot floppy disk; with all necessary files and data on it

see also...

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For control/status display of the FLI4L router there is another tool: the client imonc. This program is available fo Windows (`windows/imonc.exe`) and also for Linux (`unix/gtk-imonc`).

And now...

Have lots of fun with fli4l!

Frank Meyer (frank@fli4l.de)

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