That would be nice! I'll have to keep an eye on it too.

Ok, I'll stop linking to (D)!

I'm just having a hard time isolating the features:

1-I don't want an integrated cable modem: I'll have one, I just want the router.

2-I'd like to be able to network the computers together, preferably at 100 rather than 10 (not that that's going to make a difference).

3-USR's built-in print server looks nice, but I can't help wondering about the benefit: if there's no buffer, it's quite useless. (I've got an inkjet prt).

4-My wife needs it to connect to the company's VPN, so that's got to work.

Right now, I'm looking at the NetGear unit here.

Does that look OK?

I take it you don't move lots of files around at one time.

No, it's strictly for the convenience of sharing, instead of using floppy disks to copy files around.

:D Before I set up the network, my wife was using winzip to span a file across floppies. not that much trouble for 2 -6 meg file. This was when a 500mhz was king. Well she had been working on blowing up a photo montage to make a poster. the file was allready 100 megabytes, I think she got to the 20th floppy before she asked how to take a harddrive out and install it in another computer. I was at work. She called on phone and I managed to talk her through it. A week later we had a little 10 network set up.

BigBen,

It sounds like all you need is a good router with a built-in 4 port or more switch and that can handle VPN. Nexland makes great routers that are of great quality and handle VPN natively. They are a bit on the pricy side but I can tell you this, after working with my Pro800Turbo for at least 6 months now, I have never worked with such a fine piece of machinery (of course leaving out $2000+ Cisco routers and the likes)

The Pro400 utilises a single WAN link with a 4 port 10/100 switch, VPN, NAPT, PPPoE, IPsec Server Behind NAPT, SNMP, Full Routing, Unlimited IPsec Tunnels Passing-Through, and can handle up to 253 computers via DHCP.

Nexland Pro400

BTW these things dont freeze! Unlike the Dlinks and Linksys units that I have worked with in the past that have needed to be reset about 1-2times a month, I have been running mine since I got it.

Add some cables to the mix and you should be well satisfied.

Just a thought. Good luck.

I think that the VPN setup doesn't require a box at home, I'll have to check. If it does, it would be supplied by the company, which would either make everything free, or turn it all out into a nightmare...

Being this is for an extreamly small home network I see no cause to buy anything expensive. That $50 netgear has VPN passthrough. Should work fine for your needs. $250+ is serious overkill for small home network ah? For that price it should....well....nevermind. :p I highly doubt he will have any problems resetting the router once a month if need be if it means saving $200. Doesn't sound like mission critical stuff here. Could be wrong though I guess....

Granted. The Dlink DI-704 is good enough for what most people want to do, only costs around $50-60 nowadays and has been reliable, for the most part.

The Nexland was only a suggestion :D

Now how on earth would I have known that it has VPN passtrough?:shrug: Thanks, I think that's the one I'll order (if I have to order one!)

Given the level of use for it, yeah, even $50 is overkill... The VPN connection is for the odd situation when my wife is called to produce a report. It *might* happen a couple of times in a month (but hey, if we get cable internet, I'm not complaining!):D


Sucks to be in this jam: no info, but need a solution!

And I linked the $250 gadget primarily because of its NAS features. It is a steal at that price; especially if you have a spare 120 or 200GB HDD to add into its second bay.

I don't see any reason to use 10MBit nowadays. You can buy a decent 10/100 router switch for such little money then why not?

I personally have a Linksys 4port 10/100 router/switch with integrated wireless at home, and I love being able to use my notebook anywhere in the house. I think it was $100CAD, so still not exactly pricey. I then connected a second switch for the rest of the computers in another room (5 PCs in all but not all always running)

Right, but with the PCMCIA card, wireless is gonna get up there. Tiger has DLINK parts I might be able to put together, for ~$100... that might be feasible...

Because it says it on the page YOU linked to!!! :p :p

:D

Pleasantly suprised!!! I was expecting the 128K upload cap that they used to have!!! Now they said it is 256K upload. They also said they are being taken over by ComCast in a week. Don't know if that is good or bad, but if I get these results consistantly I don't care.:)

http://www.customcooledpc.com/cablespeed.jpg

I remember when comcast took over for @home in my neighborhood. 3000/1000 went to 1000/128 overnight, and monthly rates went up

Here is my current connect:

http://www.dslreports.com/speedtests...net/1044668683

I didn't bother booting people off my ftp; my actual upload is about 40kB/sec better :)

Well, here's the lowdown on the VPN: the company only supplies the VPN concentrator to companies, not individuals.

It must be compatible with Cisco 3015 VPN concentrator, and that includes the 3000 and 5000 series, as well as Cisco's 1720. (and many more, I'm sure)

Otherwise, my wife's laptop has been setup with the VPN client that only needs an internet connection. A modem dialer is included.

The hardware VPN solution has this limitation: "No NAT of VPN device address through the router".:shrug:

Hey, if I can get it cheap, why not. Otherwise, I'll be checking out those wireless solutions...

Is that DSL? Last time I had cable it started with @home at 128Kup and 3000down, the ATT took over and stayed at 128Kup but dropped the down to 1500. Now that ComCast is taking over they said it should stay at 256kup and 1800 down (Max). They said it was to stay competitive with DSL (which isn't an option here anyway :()

nah that's REAL cable (shaw.ca in Saskatoon). At night I get 1000kbps upload, with 124kB/s sustained on FTP. It gets a bit slower in evenings but overall not bad for about $45CAD ($30US) a month

I got 955 download 67 upload.
I thought that fresh install of win2K updated pretty fast.
http://www.dslreports.com/speedtests...com/1044671493

Not bad, I never would hve known that my bandwith was increased from 512 unless i did that. apparently my ISP changed their service offerings.

here
I'm curious how they compare to some of the real world in the lower 48, but that's another thread, topic, google search.:)

*I gave up trying to get the URL right.

All right... I found this (POS?) wireless unit, and it goes for $60 ($40 after mail-in rebate). Add a wireless PC card (pka: PCMCIA) and a wireless PCI card for that PC in the bedroom, and I'm up to $115.

Personally, I don't really care for DLink... What do you all think?

I've used their NIC cards w/o a problem. My dad uses their non wireless router switch and he's happy.
Have you thought to see if you have wireless neighbors? may pose a problem. I live in 0 lot line, when I was playing with a wireless laptop I was picking up a neighbors connection. Man he was sharing everything, logged on as admin too. Sometimes WinXP is just plain fun:D
I've been happy with my Linksys router swicth, I've only Had to reset it once.

I've never hear or read, "that insert name of device firewall sucks. " Then again I don't run anything mission critical either, so I don't worry too much. It's not like I have a database with credcard info on it. If someone really wants to look at my stuff that bad...then again, I say this be hind a firewall, behind a username, behind a log in name, bhind an anon server name....

That's not a bad price though. Even before the rebate.

Ya I turn off broadcasting and turn on 128bitWEP then filter out MAC addresses other than my notebook's wireless. Not foolproof, but enough security for my home LAN. I don't share anything other than movies, mp3s, and apps over the LAN anyway so who cares?

DLINK WIRELESS IS HORSE SHIT!!! DO NOT BUY IT!!!

I can't say that enough. I've had more problems with DLink gear than any other brand of wireless (and I've had the displeasure of messing with almost all of it).

For easy networking, that Linksys box you mentioned in your first post should do it. I am running two of them (one is 4pt, one is 8pt, and the 8pt has more features), and they give excellent throughput and are a breeze to configure (um, if you need to configure them at all).

I believe they handle VPN (one connection). Let me log on to my 8pt and find out ....

You can put one machine in a DMZ for use in VPN. Would that work for you? You can also forward various ports to various machines if that is necessary for your connection. I'm scanning the manual now ....

The router supports IPSEC pass through for VPN connections. The Linksys would do the job for you. You can download the manual at:

ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pub/manuals/befsru31_ug.pdf

If you decide to go wireless, now, I would highly recommend Netgear or Linksys wireless products. Netgear especially has some nice configuration utilities and such that make it a breeze, and they also tend to have a nice range on their access points (about 200 ft further than my DLink router and 100 further than my DLink bridge with a 12 dB antenna).

The problem with wireless is that even in the best of circumstances, you're limited to under 6Mbps throughput. You were talking about wanting 100Mbps capability, and unfortunately there is no wireless system (that any of us can afford, at least) that can do close to that.

What airspirit said is right on the money. With wireless networking, you get what you pay for. If your going to depend on wireless for a reliable network link, it pay to spend some extra dollars up front and get quality equipment and save yourself some frustration. As far as the lower priced equipment goes, Linksys has the best bang for the buck. What your looking for in a wireless AP is the transmit/receive output, most will show it in db, the linksys WAP11 is putting out 20db with equates to 100mw of power. The same is true for the PCMCIA cards. Most brands only put out 75mw or less. By far the best bang for the buck with the PCMCIA card is the Orinoco Gold or Silver card, it putting out 100mw. It might not seem like a big difference, but it really is. If you want to spend a little more for an AP, I would look at the Orinoco AP-500, its a great AP and goes for around $250.
I have a setup in Arizona between my Parents house and my Uncles house which is apx 10 miles apart with decent line of sight using to wap11's and 24dp parabolic antennas. They get a consistant 5mps transfer rate.

scott

Thanks to everyone.

I'm dropping the wireless option, because getting a decent one will throw this project out of our budget.

I'm also dropping the hardware VPN, as I expect it to be out-of-budget too.

VPN passthrough is a requirement, and so far, I know that all these have it:
-Netgear 4 port unit ($50)
-Linksys 4 port unit ($80)
-Linksys 8 port unit ($100)

So unless the Linksys 4 port unit has a major advantage over the Netgear one, Netgear it is. More Googling...

The linksys has more options for setup. My brother is running two Netgear 4pts, and they are a real bastard to configure if you're doing anything beyond surfing the web. If you want to set up internal servers or whatnot, they are a real pain.

The linksys units, on the other hand, are a breeze. All of their documentation is saved in the firmware, as well, if you have any questions. Setting up internal forwarding and whatnot is a one minute operation.

To each his own, but I would spend the extra cash on the 8pt Linksys box. After screwing with my brother's router, I wouldn't EVER buy one of those things for myself or my business.