Nucleus is a GNU/Linux based system designed to perform firewall and core-network services in dedicated appliance form-factors. Nucleus performs the functions of a Firewall/Router, VPN Server, Load-Balancer, LDAP Server, 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

When compared to existing full commercial solutions from providers such as Cisco, SonicWall and WatchGuard Nucleus provides more features at lower costs. Many options that cost hundredes or even thousands in licensing and support costs can be had freely. And full support is available, 24/7 from Edoceo, and many other network engineers with reasonable Linux system experience.

Notable Packages

On top of the base Gentoo system this device contains:

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 net5501. This example assumes that /dev/sdc is the Compact Flash, USB or SATA disk that will be connected to the net5501 after installation.

This Stage4 Image is designed for usage on a Soekris net5501 system. Installation to other hardware is possible, the kernel must be updated to enable drivers. 

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

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

Appliances

Edoceo also provides an appliance based solution on different hardware platforms. All are x86 based provide between 512MiB to 8G of RAM, single or multi-core CPU and CF,SDD or SATA based storage.

Please contact us for more information.

See Also

Known working hardware platforms: