Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Hosting Security and Technology : Router: Cisco or Linux?

[lordcage]

I'm on a dilema within the last weeks. Our company is growing and we need to increase our routing capacity.

We currently use something near 20mbps, but within the next months we'll go to 40, 60, 100mbps and we need to give a special attention to our routers.

Linux looks like a cheaper/affordable solution, but someone told me it's not stable/reliable after 20mbps.

What's your opinion about it?

[ThatScriptGuy]

I think you have your terminology completely backwards. Linux is an operating system. Cisco is a company that produces all sorts of network equipment. You can use a computer running Linux to route your traffic if you so wish.

I think you need some help from someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Running a PC 24/7 to do your routing will not be cost effective, no matter what someone told you...Your best bet is to talk to a network guru. Maybe even call up Cisco direct and talk to them.

[NetDepot - Terrence]

What is the url to your company?

[lordcage]

Originally Posted by kcackler

I think you have your terminology completely backwards. Linux is an operating system. Cisco is a company that produces all sorts of network equipment. You can use a computer running Linux to route your traffic if you so wish.

I think you need some help from someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Running a PC 24/7 to do your routing will not be cost effective, no matter what someone told you...Your best bet is to talk to a network guru. Maybe even call up Cisco direct and talk to them.

Yes of course, linux is PC =)

If I call Cisco, of course they'll tell me Cisco is better!

[Sheps]

TBH, you going to want a box designed and built to do your routing, and no matter how you slice it, a linux computer/server is not designed to do that.

[domainworldaccess]

If you can afford Cisco, buy it and the relative support contracts.

If not look at Vyatta - http://vyatta.com/ (which I think is something like you were thinking about when you mentioned Linux originally?)

[Host3000]

We use cisco, but the Juniper J series is an attractive entry router I think.

[A Grateful Dad]

We use Cisco with a dedicated 100mbps connection to our DC and 1G to the Internet...

We looked at alot of alternates such as the GB2000, Linux based routers, etc...

Cisco just made the most sense to us and once we got used to the "Cisco" way of doing things - it was very simple to setup and we have had amazing success with it!

[tulix]

take a look routerOS (linux based + HW) or buy used Cisco 72XX - if it is not VXR - it is cheap - will handle 100 Mb/s + bandwdith

[amc-james]

Well, despite what everyone else is saying, Linux is very adept at being a router. I've used it in upwards of 300Mbps with out incident. You need quality gear at that level, but routing 100Mbps can be done easily on modern day servers (P4 and up). You wont need much disk, at least a Gig of RAM if you plan on running BGP; the faster ram the better.

I've used quagga + centos with a lot of success.

[blessen]

You can use Linux OS as a router as it will be cheaper than going for a Cisco Router. Use Vyatta on linux and it will do the routing job for you :-)

Check this
http://www.vyatta.org/

[Jonathan Kinney]

Though I have not had much experience with Linux being used in some form as a router, I would have to say that it could handle it, and be very stable. Cisco is not just a hardware company, they also have to create their OS for their hardware, and I have heard them say that they are not a hardware company, but a software company, when they were defending their consumable license scheme, where the software license is not legally suppose to be passed on with the hardware when it is resold. But that is a half truth, they make the hardware too. Cisco is specialized (hardware and software) for what ever product you are buying, so though they cost a fair amount, they will do the job and do it well (assuming you keep the software updated). Linux can do the job too, but you just need to know what you are doing to tune things just right, and yes, you need very high end hardware to keep it up to par with such an important job.

[speculatrix]

consider an alternative: cisco 3650E or 3750E (wire speed switch with wire-speed routing.. note, not the G model!).

for routing and firewalling, pfSense on PC architecture can perform very ably.

[Lee@GenesisAdaptive]

Another alternative is PFSense. PFSense use's FreeBSD as a base to provide routing on the FreeBSD platform with integrated web interface management, Multi-WAN Load Balancing and integrated firewall.

http://www.pfsense.org