Nucleus - Linux Firewall/Gateway/Router Appliance

Nucleus is a GNU/Linux based system designed to perform firewall and core-network services in dedicated appliance. Nucleus performs the functions of a Firewall/Router (iptables/iproute2), VPN Server (openvpn), LDAP Server (openldap), Samba Domain Controller with many other features. Most importantly, by using strictly Open Source¹ software, the owner/operator is completely free to customize, configure, extend and mold these systems into a multitude of environments. Edoceo provides a system image, binary packages, pre-built systems and technicial support for these systems.

Feature Comparison

Nucleus provides more features at lower costs when compared to existing full commercial solutions from providers such as Cisco, Juniper, SonicWall and WatchGuard. Many of these software options are available on Nucleus for no licensing and support is available from Edoceo and many other network engineers with reasonable Linux system experience. Simply shell in and use common, well known tools - not some obscure, vendor specific secret code system.

Notable Packages

On top of the base Linux system this device contains:

64bit Linux 3.2
GLibC 2.12.2 and GCC 4.4.5
Firewalling, Routing, NAT and other connection services via IPTables v1.4.10 and ip tools2
Multi-Network DHCP and DNS provided by dnsmasq
VPN Servcies provided by OpenVPN
Network Time Services via OpenNTPd
net-snmp

Installation to Compact Flash or SATA Disk

Nucleus is very easy to install to a Compact Flash, process would be similar when writing to a USB or SATA disk for use in the Soekris net6501. This example assumes that /dev/sdc is the Compact Flash, USB or SATA disk that will be connected to the net6501 after installation.

This Stage4 Image is designed for usage on a Soekris net6501 system. Installation to other hardware is possible, the kernel must be updated to enable drivers.

~ # dd if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdc
~ # cfdisk /dev/sdc
~ # mkfs -t ext2 -L'nucleus' /dev/sdc1
~ # wget http://cdn.edoceo.com/praxis/nucleus.tbz
~ # mount /dev/sdc1 /mnt/nucleus
~ # mkdir /mnt/nucleus/boot
~ # extlinux --install /mnt/nucleus/boot
~ # tar -zjp -f nucleus.tbz -C /mnt/nucleus
~ # nano -w /mnt/nucleus/boot/syslinux.cfg

Next update the network configuration.

Remember to remove/update: etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules

Appliances

Edoceo also provides an appliance based solution on the Soekris net6501 platform.

Please contact us for more information.

Feature Comparison

Notable Packages

Installation to Compact Flash or SATA Disk

Appliances

See Also