"Cable/DSL Firewall Routers" -- which one?

aldel · Post by **aldel** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:30 am

I want to get one of these little boxes that lets you share an Internet connection and acts as a firewall. I don't need it to be wireless. I could learn everything I need to know, I guess, but it's easier just to ask around for recommendations. :D

I doubt if I'll ever have more than three or four computers hooked up at once. I want to be able to share files between them without any security risk from the outside. (I'll probably make everything require a password, but still, these are Windows machines.) Security is my highest priority.

I haven't been playing online games lately, but I'd like to keep the option open. I had a cheap Hawking router for a couple days a few years ago, but it added about 300 milliseconds to the ping, which I thought was pretty sad considering that going through a Windows ME box with Internet Connection Sharing turned on added almost nothing. So being fast (both latency and throughput) would be nice too.

Here's some products I'm considering:

Linksys BEFSX41
Linksys BEFSR41
D-Link DI-604
Netgear RP614NA

They all sound pretty similar from the descriptions, except the more expensive Linksys one has special features for VPNs, and some of the comments make it sound like it might be a more secure firewall. I don't think I need the VPN features; I do use a VPN for work, but I think the software I use will work through the other routers. If the firewall is more secure I'd be willing to pay the extra money for that, but I have a feeling they're about the same. So that's probably my biggest question, since I'm pretty clueless about firewall features.

A search turned up this thread in which most people seem to agree the BEFSR41 (the cheaper Linksys) is a good product. I think I saw it for $35 at Best Buy, but that may have been a sale that's ended by now.

So, any recommendations?

Admiral LSD · Post by **Admiral LSD** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:37 am

I wub my little Billion BIPAC 5100 (ADSL). It's cheap, simple and gets the job done.

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:44 am

get the befsr41.

if anyone on this board has a router, its either that, a befsr11, or a seperate computer.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:03 am

I have a befsr41.

Wolf on Air · Post by **Wolf on Air** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 11:44 am

I hear good things about the BEFSR41, but I don't have any personal experience with one. I run a separate computer with OpenBSD on (the most secure operating system for x86, in addition to having perhaps the best firewall ever. Check out my ruleset.)

Please note that a "hardware" firewall isn't necessarily safer just because it's in a nice little plastic box - it's still software running on a small computer, equally prone to software exploits and bugs as software running on a "big" computer. I'd take OpenBSD over any hardware black-box solution, personally...

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:09 pm

Definitely the BEFSR41

Tetrad · Post by **Tetrad** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:15 pm

I had a d-link router once, and it really wasn't very good at all. Right now I'm using a PC as a router.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:34 pm

BEFSR41 here also

aldel · Post by **aldel** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:45 pm

Thanks, everyone. It's nice to have clueful people around who are willing to answer questions like this. I guess it's pretty unanimous (except LSD's ADSL modem, which wouldn't work too well with my cable connection).

I know being "hardware" doesn't make it better, but because of the way my new condo is set up I want a small, quiet box I can easily hide, not a whole PC. Not to mention that setting up a BSD or Linux installation would take work, so I'd probably just use my old Windows 95 machine without changing anything, and then I'd always be worrying about it.

Tricord · Post by **Tricord** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:18 pm

I've had bad experiences with a linksys, but maybe I just got a rotten apple, or else I was asking too much from it (DHCP server and router for a small corporate LAN instead of home use).

ccb056 · Post by **ccb056** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:20 pm

Linksys BEFSX41
Linksys BEFSR41

Ive got both, I'm using the x41 as a router and the r41 as a switch, gotta love the stateful packet inspection on the x41

KompresZor · Post by **KompresZor** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:14 pm

Krom wrote:I have a befsr41.

me too and I'm very happy with mine

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:25 pm

Another vote here from me for the BEFSR41. I've had one of these boxes for about 5 years now and I haven't had a single problem with it. The X41 supports VPN access and a bunch of features you probably aren't going to use. Linksys provides continuning updates to the router firmware and they've also revised the BEFSR41 several times since I got mine.

ccb056 · Post by **ccb056** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:58 pm

the x has a better firewall (SPI)

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 3:12 pm

If you need a DSL modem as well, get a Zoom X5

DCrazy · Post by **DCrazy** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 3:42 pm

BEFSR41 version 2 (pre-Cisco buyout) here. My friend has a BEFSR41 version 3 (with Cisco logo on it) and it drops the connection whenever transmitting a file over 1mb -- or at least it did for a while, and it doesn't do that anymore. It's a known issue with the version 3's.

JMEaT · Post by **JMEaT** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 12:01 am

Linksys

Plebeian · Post by **Plebeian** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:49 am

I've got a couple of SX41s, as well.

Linksys's wired routers are well-respected, though their wireless ones have never really had many good reviews. Have had no issues with either of mine, with configuration, usage, or annoying firewall issues (the Belkin I use to control my wireless sometimes blocks data from elsewhere on my network).

Honest Bob · Post by **Honest Bob** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 7:31 pm

I'd go with the BEFSX41. I belive it has built in ad blocking. I've got a BEFSR41 at home. Hell I even have it working on my one way cable modem. Very happy with it.

Plebeian · Post by **Plebeian** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:04 pm

Honest Bob wrote:I'd go with the BEFSX41. I belive it has built in ad blocking.

Don't believe it does, but of course that's easy enough to get elsewhere, doesn't really matter.

I think the main differences compared to the SR41 is the slightly stronger firewall (SPI) and the VPN tunneling ability.

JMEaT · Post by **JMEaT** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:45 pm

The ad blocking just functions like a hosts file I believe.

Kyouryuu · Post by **Kyouryuu** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:55 pm

Disregard anything Netgear.

Beyond that, I have no advice for you.

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:54 am

I have a Netgear wireless router and so far no problem.

DarkShadow · Post by **DarkShadow** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 7:40 am

I just ordered this last week when I was still on AOL on a one day sale for $45.00. Shoud be here today.

Linksys BEFSR41

Warlock · Post by **Warlock** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 2:13 pm

im mad they u cant get 1 port routers aney more from linksys, i wish i never sold mine