The skyPipes Advanced Rules and Routes Configurator, Advanced Router for short, is Free Software (under the GNU General Public License). It implements a secure PostgreSQL database-backed Apache/PHP web application on GNU/Linux. This application maintains an iptables-based firewall configuration that translates multiple routable IP address spaces to one non-routable IP address space and back again. This dynamic firewall provides high availability using a combination of Network Address Translation, Static Alternative Routes, and Dead Gateway Detection, made possible by Julian Anastasov's Linux Kernel Patches. This software is freely downloadable from the internet.
The basic function of the Advanced Router is to give the hosts on an internal LAN or DMZ redundant full-service connections to the internet by being connected to two or more ISP networks. In order to provide redundancy, the Advanced Router uses a combination of Network Address Translation, Static Alternative Routes, and Dead Gateway Detection. This is ideal for distributing traffic across multiple low-cost DSL lines. Downtime is reduced, even eliminated by always having a spare line or two operational.
Physically, the Advanced Router is a commodity personal computer with off-the-shelf ethernet adapters, running Linux with a patched kernel. Configuration preferences are set using a convenient, secure, database-backed web application designed to detect new interfaces and hosts for easy maintenance. For greater redundancy, a second Advanced Router can act as a Tandem Partner, reconfigurable on the fly to take over if the first should require routine upgrades, maintenance, or replacement. Key features include:
Note: We are no longer offering skyPipes turnkey solutions. We will leave the software on SourceForge to support those wanting to add pipes aggregation to the Linux Advanced Router Project.
We have tested economical hardware solutions that provide comparable or superior WAN aggregation from Astrocorp and PePLink. The Astrocom PowerLink Pro series is well worth the extra cost compared to PePLink's Balance products because it offers 1-to-1 Source NAT and built-in DNS that serves only IP addresses for active connections. Astrocom's administrative interface is a dream to maintain, typically taking seconds to reconfigure dozens of servers compared to many minutes for the PepLink.
We are now researching the further options for multi-WAN ISP pipe aggregation and load balancing:
Email Bob Doyle or call 617-876-5678 for more information.
| Company | Product | Price | DNS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astrocom | PowerLink Pro | $3500 | yes | |
| Edimax | BR-6524K | $129 | no | |
| Edimax | PRI-682 | $399 | yes | |
| Edimax | BR-724 | $399 | yes | |
| PepLink | 200 | $999 | no | |
| PepLink | 300 | $1299 | no | |
| SonicWall | TZ 170 | $399 | no | |
| Xincom | XC-DPG502 | $175 | yes | |
| XRoads Networks | Edge2WAN 50 | $999 | no | |
| ZyXel | ZyWall 70 | $1099 (NewEgg) | yes |
Physically, the Advanced Router is a commodity personal computer with off-the-shelf ethernet adapters, running Linux with a patched kernel. Configuration preferences are set using a convenient, secure, database-backed web application designed to detect new interfaces and hosts for easy maintenance. For greater redundancy, a second Advanced Router can act as a Tandem Partner, reconfigurable on the fly to take over if the first should require routine upgrades, maintenance, or replacement. Key features include:
- Advanced Rules and Routes
- Network Address Translation and Filtering
- Static Alternative Routes
- Dead Gateway Detection
- High Availability
- Load Balancing
- Tandem Failover
- RDF Database Schema
- Easy to use, highly secure web GUI
Copyright © 2003 skyBuilders.com http://www.skybuilders.com
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
