floppyfw is a Linux distribution

Linux distribution

A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...

 running BusyBox

BusyBox

BusyBox provides several stripped-down Unix tools in a single executable. It runs in a variety of POSIX environments such as Linux, Android, FreeBSD and others, such as proprietary kernels, although many of the tools it provides are designed to work with interfaces provided by the Linux kernel. It...

 to provide a firewall/gateway/router on a single bootable floppy disk

Floppy disk

A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...

.

Floppyfw is maintained by Thomas Lundquist. Development is ongoing. The current version is 3.0.12, released 2010-04-25.

Requirements

• Intel 80386SX or better
• two network interface cards
• 1.44MB floppy drive
• 12MByte of RAM

Features

• Access lists
• IP-masquerading (network address translation
  Network address translation
  In computer networking, network address translation is the process of modifying IP address information in IP packet headers while in transit across a traffic routing device....
  
  )
• Connection tracked packet filtering
• Quite advanced routing
• Traffic shaping
  Traffic shaping
  Traffic shaping is the control of computer network traffic in order to optimize or guarantee performance, improve latency, and/or increase usable bandwidth for some kinds of packets by delaying other kinds of packets that meet certain criteria...
  
  
• PPPoE
• Very simple packaging system. Is used for editors, PPP, VPN, traffic shaping and whatever comes up
• Logging through klogd/syslogd, both local and remote
• Serial support for console over serial port
• DHCP server and DNS cache for internal networks

It will get more features, but only if it is possible to cram it into the one, single diskette. More than one floppy is bloatware..

External links

• floppyfw main page