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I've been using my desktop as a devoted SSH box running Debian. I want to expand its functionality to use it as a router/firewall using the pfSense FreeBSD distro. Could ...
  1. 06-08-2009 #1
    Chao06
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    running 2 OS's in parallel

    I've been using my desktop as a devoted SSH box running Debian.
    I want to expand its functionality to use it as a router/firewall using the pfSense FreeBSD distro.
    Could I run the two in parallel with Debian behind the firewall?
    Would I need a VPS like Xen to do that, and if so, how would that effect the routing capabilities for pfSense? Or is what I want even possible?
    thanks,
    David
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  2. 06-09-2009 #2
    b2bwild
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    Xen will make it run completely inside of your OS, using ParaVirtualization.
    If you want to make 2 Systems run in parallel, on same hardware.
    You should take a look at VMware EXSi
    This is a Hypervisor which will keep your both OS completely seperate from each other.
    Never make any misteaks.

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  3. 06-09-2009 #3
    Chao06
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    : ) thanks, that looks like it'll do what I need...

    not trying to be picky, but do you know of something similar that's open source? it would feel kinda weird running Debian on top of a proprietary VM...
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  4. 06-09-2009 #4
    Hal343
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    Xen http://www.xen.org/ or KVMMain Page - KVM
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  5. 06-09-2009 #5
    b2bwild
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chao06 View Post
    : ) thanks, that looks like it'll do what I need...

    not trying to be picky, but do you know of something similar that's open source? it would feel kinda weird running Debian on top of a proprietary VM...
    lol, thats true.

    Well, Para Virtualizations are faster compared to Emulated one.

    Para Virtualization (Xen) > KVM > Qemu (In matter of speed)

    But Para Virtualization can be only used between same kind of OS/Kernel of same arch.
    (In this case Host kernel will have control over guest operations)

    KVM uses the Hardware ability to Virtualize, (Will only work on Intel CPUs having VT Technology or AMD CPUs having VTx Technology)
    Here Guest OS directly runs on your CPU. If your Processor is 64bit It allows to run 64 bit guest OS even if host is 32 bit

    Qemu is quite slower than these, as it will emulate all the hardware. and runs completely inside of your OS.

    So its better to use Linux + Xen for multiple Linux Server Virtualizations.

    To keep VM's network separate from your host OS, its better to use a bridge devices.
    That would do your trick
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  6. 06-12-2009 #6
    Chao06
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    so you're saying it would probably be best to run Xen, then find a Linux based firewall/router distribution instead so that it can share the generic kernel with Debian?

    (edit)
    Also, could sharing the kernel potentially undermine the security of the firewall?
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  7. 06-13-2009 #7
    b2bwild
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    No it won't, If you apply security to your host OS..
    In Para Virtualization services are directly from the base hardware instead of abstracting or emulating it.

    Xen's performance is quite similar as native OS
    Last edited by b2bwild; 06-13-2009 at 02:12 AM. Reason: ,
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  8. 06-13-2009 #8
    Chao06
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    awesome, thanks! i downloaded xen, and I think i'll be going with Coyote Linux and setting up Xen through it...
    thanks for all your help : )
    David
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