Routers: Cisco vs. Linux?

[Michael Hipp]

David A. Bandel wrote:

> Well, I have several Linux boxes w/ a Cyclades Frame Relay card (but the
> PC300 is also available for T1/E1 connections as well as V-35).  My
> biggest pipe is 4Mb and I run several incoming/outgoing PVCs (but I also
> haven't saturated this tube).  To date, I've had no problems.  Cyclades
> is a bit slow supporting new kernels (they write their own drivers), but
> generally this has not been a problem for me.  What I like is that the
> Linux box is much more flexible than the Cisco, and I can run tcpdump,
> etc., and watch traffic, troubleshoot, run ingress/egress policing, and
> more that Cisco doesn't give me.  If I were to use Cisco, I'd end up
> with a Linux box directly behind it, so why bother?
> 
> I do, however have a few Cisco boxes, which I buy off E-Bay on the
> cheap.  Haven't had problems with any of them, but most are just
> emergency boxes (in case one of my Cyclades cards goes down). 

How much do you expect to pay for those Cyclades cards and where to buy 
them? Looking at my usual sources didn't turn up any.

I got scared off of buying Cisco boxes from anything other than official 
sources because of their hostile software license.

Thanks,
Michael