fli4l

fli4l
Developer fli4l-Team (net(t)work(s) e.V.)
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Open source
Initial release April 2000 (2000-04)
Latest release 3.10.15[1] / 7 October 2018 (2018-10-07)
Latest preview Tarball version / Weekly[2]
Available in German, English, French
Platforms i386, x86-64
Kernel type modular
License GPL (Free software)
Official website www.fli4l.de/en/

fli4l (flexible internet router for linux, before floppy isdn for linux) is a Linux distribution, actively developed by German developers since 2000. The projects main task is to provide a small Linux system that turns almost every machine into a router. The distribution can run from a floppy disk and was created with the aim of simple configuration and support for older hardware.[3][4][5]

fli4l can route between Ethernet and ISDN, DSL or UMTS, or just between Ethernet networks.[4]

Characteristics and requirements

fli4l is based on the Linux kernel. As the documentation is very extensive no knowledge of Linux is required, however a basic knowledge of network technology is needed.[6]

The hardware requirements for fli4l are low, a Intel Pentium with MMX support and 64 MiB RAM and (depending upon the configuration) one or two network interface controllers is quite adequate. A hard disk drive is not required, but can be used by fli4l too.[7]

Newer versions of fli4l provide also the possibility to create a working installation on a CF card in a card reader, which card then in turn can operate from a CF adapter in an IDE slot. Also the generation of an ISO image is supported to run from a CD-ROM as well as from DOC/DOM for Embedded systems.[7]

fli4l can be configured on Linux, Unix and Windows systems using just text files.[8]

In addition, fli4l has the possibility to encrypt connections over the Internet or via Wireless LAN using OpenVPN or PPTP (Poptop).[9]

Versions

There are two development branches for fli4l, a stable and a development version.

The present stable release[1] is based on a Linux 3.16 kernel and supports virtualization by means of Xen and KVM. USB and Wireless LAN are supported to a great extent as well as current embedded hardware as APU, ALIX, Soekris, and EPIA series.

The 4.0 development version[2] also provides a Linux 4.1 kernel. Furthermore, it implements a new management and configuration layer for connections (so-called circuits) which has been designed from the ground up. It allows to use multiple WAN links (e.g. via DSL, ISDN, or UMTS) in parallel.

Optional packages

fli4l is a modular system using so-called OPT-packages. To create an individual configuration, only software packages for those options, that are needed, are downloaded and unzipped into the directory tree. To extend the basic functionality, a wide range of applications is available in the so-called OPT-database;[10] for example, optional packages can be used for monitoring traffic or an fli4l can function as a printserver. This process easily allows own developments, that can be made available to other users via the OPT-database.[10]

Device control

An fli4l router can be controlled and monitored with a browser-based interface. Besides, the program imonc (isdn monitor client) is available for Windows and Linux (GTK). imonc allows extensive control as well as remote-controlled update of the router's software.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Latest stable release of fli4l, Retrieved October 9, 2018
  2. 1 2 Latest weekly development version of fli4l, Retrieved October 9, 2018
  3. ↑ "fli4l 3.6.2". Softpedia. n.d. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Haas, Juergen (April 27, 2003). "Fli4l (Floppy ISDN/DSL)". About.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  5. ↑ "fli4l". free(code). n.d. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  6. ↑ fli4l documentation: Introduction
  7. 1 2 fli4l documentation: Setup Flavours
  8. ↑ fli4l documentation: Configuration
  9. ↑ Poptop
  10. 1 2 The fli4l database for additional packages
  11. ↑ imonc

Further reading

  • Schemberg, Axel; Linten, Martin; Surendorf, Kai (2010). PC-Netzwerke [PC Networks] (in German) (5th ed.). Galileo Computing. pp. 422–440. ISBN 978-3-8362-1105-5.
  • Schmidt, Jürgen (2003). "Report - 300-Euro-PC, Router mit Mehrwert" [Report - 300 Euro PC, Router with value added]. c't (in German). Heinz Heise (3): 84–93. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  • Schmidt, Jürgen (2003). "Gut aufgelegt, Den Internet-Zugang mit Linux richtig konfigurieren" [In a good mood, Internet access with Linux configured correctly]. c't (in German). Heinz Heise (2): 184–185. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  • Violka, Karsten (2002). "Virtuelle LAN-Party, Netzwerkspiele im VPN" [Virtual LAN party, Online games using VPN]. c't (in German). Heinz Heise (22): 218.
  • Diedrich, Dr. Oliver (2002). "Mit dem Pinguin ins Netz, fli4l macht das Aufsetzen eines Linux-Routers zum Kinderspiel" [With the penguin in the net, fli4l makes the setup of a Linux router child's play]. c't (in German). Heinz Heise (7): 110. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  • Kaps, Reiko (5 May 2009). "Schlankes Router-Linux" [Slim Linux router]. Heise Netze (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  • "Linux-Router fli4l in "stabiler Version" erhältlich" [Linux router fli4l available in "stable version"]. heise online (in German). 25 Sep 2007.
  • "Linux-Softwarerouter fli4l jetzt in Version 3.0" [Linux software router fli4l now in version 3.0]. heise online (in German). 28 Dec 2005.
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