Why not try Smoothwall? The basic version is free and provides some very advanced features [like I've never seen on any home or soho box], and if you need more the paid versions have add-in modules and real support options. [This assumes you have, or can get a spare PC...everyone who reads these blogs does, don't they?]

I have been giving it some thought, perhaps I simply need to take the plunge. :)

Matt,

I use a Cisco 871W and I really like it. I never have to reboot it, which is one of the main reasons I moved away from the consumer grade routers. I also have 4 VLANs, one being a guest VLAN. Two SSIDs, one being on the guest VLAN. The guest VLAN is invaluable when I have a virus infested machine to work on or have guests in my home. Since I provide services via the Internet for my customers, I needed 2 static IPs on the WAN interface — works great! For me, it was well worth the money and comes highly recommended!

-b

Cisco GOOD, Linksys CRAP.

Check out Apple’s Airport Extreme…
http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/

If you do not want to try smoothwall, I would definetly go with the Cisco 850,
as statefull packet Firewall is darned important..
If you have a spare PC, using Smothwall or any of the other Linux firewall
distros is the way to go as a PC firewall set up correctly can handle much more traffic than any of the entry level small office routers.

Bob

Have you seen the article on “hacking” the Linksys WRT54GL? You run two software programs, and they change the router to a “commercial” equivalent unit. You have access to a myriad of settings plus you can up the output! Normal power for home units is 28 mw. I currently have mine at 70 mw (for 6 months), with no problems. They say you can run at 100 mw, but above 130 mw may overheat the unit.

Hi Matt,
I’ve hacked the firmware on a WRT54Gv4 and it works nice for home use. I also picked up a cisco 871W for around $300 after Cisco Academy and really like that unit but you need to learn cisco command line to get the most out of it. I’m currently using a Checkpoint Safe@Office 400w that I really like. Very full featured and easy to use. Only down side is the yearly subscription for firmware updates which I recommend are done manually only when needed.

This is probably getting old already, but I feel compelled to say…

FIRST!

Well, not really.

@ Robert E Lee … “Cisco GOOD, Linksys CRAP”

Erm Linksys WRT54GL with the Tomato  www.polarcloud.com) or DDWRT  www.dd-wrt.com) Firmware on is FAR from crap. You OBVIOUSLY did some research there before posting THAT comment. Before Linksys opened up thier (I agree) crap firmware (like 3/4 years ago now) then yes you comment would be true, Time you crawled out of that cave you are obviously living in.

The Linksys with those Firmwares on it is far better than anything you can get at that price range, unless you want to spen $500+ on a router, which most of you here wont… Get a life and give REASONS why they are crap, coz you are obviously just going off an old comment that someone made years ago when things were different back then,…

Cisco routers, even their SOHO models do not allow for DNS reflection (connecting to a website, that exists on your internal network, via it’s public address, from inside your network). This may not be a big deal but something to consider, especially if doing alot of hosting from your network. Other than that, the Cisco 850 is solid. For a more economical solution, take a look at Zyxel’s Zywall 2+ series. It is reasonably low priced ($161.99 at Newegg), very stable, performs well, and is secure. Setup may be confusing for newbies but not a problem for mid level and above - and certainly easier than Cisco’s SDM or CLI, with none of the SDM’s quirks. I’ve placed the Zywall 2+ or the Zywall 2 at all of my SMB customers (and a few private users). They have had 0 downtime due to router/firewall issues and no complaints due to performance (that can be traced back to the Zywall).

I would third the Linksys router with third-party firmware on it. It becomes a very capable unit, and the hardware is fairly stable. I’ve had one unit running for almost two years with only two re-boots. I’ve been using the DD-WRT and HyperWRT firmware packages for a while.

The other advantages of the Linksys WRT54xx series are

1) the hardware is very inexpensive, and fairly widely available, which is not the case with the Cisco or the HotBrick.

2) The firmware is open-source, and as such requires no subscription to get updates or bug-patches.

I’ve also used the DGL-4300, and the major difference I see is that it has GigE on the LAN side, which the Linksys does not.

Don’t know if they are available in the USA, but have a look at Draytek. Very solid, we use them extensively

Chalk up another recommendation for the WRT54G[X] series with third-party firmware. I have been using mine for about 4 years iirc. I started with the Sveasoft firmware, but moved to DD-WRT about a year ago. The only problem that I had was with the IP cache on the unit and p2p applications. But, a bit of RTFMing and I found the setting in DD-WRT to change to fix that.
-JP

Like other people on here said; smoothwall is THE way to go . The basic free version has tons of options already. If you browse their forums there are tons of add ons to expand it. I’ve used it for a few years now and it’s been rock solid and secure. Sometimes months go by between reboots, and even then I have to reboot because I installed a patch or add ons which require a reboot. It’s very very good. I even installed and add-on that monitors the status of the cable modem ! Get it.Installs are easy, even for people not known with linux.

I don’t understand why everyone thinks only about routers — hardware firewalls usually have all the router functionality plus much more firewall functionality than the zero to vestigial amount that routers have. I suspect the reason all the columnists etc ignore firewalls is that they are more expensive than routers.

(Please pardon the typo in my previous message email address)

I like the idea of open firmware for Linksys but can you get the routers anymore?? The firmware doesn’t work on the newer versions.

3rd party firmwares work up to but not including version 7, ebay is defintley your friend when it comes to wrt54g routers, and its a peice of cake to flash the new firmware
I just did it and all i can say is wow

Don’t know about availability in your market, we have had very good results with Netgear products.
The DG834G in this network has been ticking along for several months without issues or resets.
There are also two WG602’s running as a bridge to another site, neither of which have been powered down or reset in months.
Good security (WPA) and easy to set up. We ran our own aggressive attack on the system to try breaking it without success and have yet to have issues with external attacks getting past the firewall.
I have several client sites running Netgear products, all without issues.
Overall a thumbs up for a product range about half the cost of equivalent Cisco products (which I do install on Government sites - but they have more money than brains!)

Love to see you get an anntenna for your DLINK, they do not make omni directional anntennas for their shitty product. LINKSYS is endorsed by CISCO. Enough SAID!

You obviously are a end user and do not need the proper port forwarding functions.

I use a Cicso 851 to run a small office environment. Approximately 25 PC’s, exchange, 2 small domains locally. I love it. Setup and use are excellent and have only needed to reboot once in 6 months. SDM is not for a newbie but anyone with some basic router configuration experience can handle the step up to this.

Add another thumbs-up for DD-WRT. We use it all the time to make bridges for ‘portable classrooms’- you can wire up a trailer with a WRT-54GL and wired drops for less than a 1/4 the cost of doing it the by-the-fire-code way using fiber. We have units up over a year now without reboots, even with boosted power.
At home, it works great, with the caveat that you might have to tell netfilter to allow more concurrent connections.
If you got burned by linksys terribly before, you can also use the DD-WRT software on Buffalo, Asus, routers, as well as ‘routerboard’ routers- very nice dependable hardware, and even a dedicated PC!
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices