I'm specifically looking for a VPN Cable/DSL broadband router, but I'm wondering if there are any side by side comparisons between the major brands out there - D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, SMC, Belkin (do they count?), 3Com, etc.
I'd basically jump for a 3Com anyday, but their $100 broadband router doesn't do VPN. They do have a $1500 router which you can buy a $500 software upgrade to do VPN...but c'mon, lets be realistic.
So I'm faced w/ lesser-quality choices. So, here are my thoughts and previous experiences.
Linksys - works, if it works. If it doesn't, tough luck. Out of the 4 Cable/DSL routers I've gotten from Linksys, 3 of 'em had serious problems with connectivity. Such that, whenever you plug it into the "switch" in the back of the router, the computer it was connected to would think the cable has been disconnected, about once every 2 minutes. So bad that I wouldn't be able to get an IP or anything. In one instance, it didn't drop connection...but I was plagued with messages like "the network is busy". After throwing all these back onto the original 3Com hub, and uplinking that to the router, I was able to run everything smoothly (so it's definitely not a wiring problem). So basically, I'd had my share of problems with Linksys, and I'll stay away. And for the around $150 price tag for a VPN router (although it claims 70 concurrent VPN connections) that doesn't even have SPI, they're definitely last place on my list.
Netgear - I haven't had any experience w/ their broadband routers, but I have 5 network cards, 2 hubs and 3 switches from them, and I've been nothing but satisfied. Their VPN router FVS318 is an 8 port switch, 8 VPN connections, and SPI firewall capability, which is very very attractive. They also have a 30 dollar rebate, so, at buy.com, this brings to price to 83. Shipped free.
D-Link - I've owned a hub from them (note the past tense) and I had nothing but collisions...sooo...present your arguments to sway my position against their whole brand.
SMC - Loved the company, until Microsoft stopped developing drivers for them (thanks Microsoft, you rock). Anyways, never had a problem with any of their NICs, but haven't tried their hubs/switches/routers. The Barricade Plus Cable/DSL router (SMC7004FW) boasts basically the same stuff as the Netgear, SPI, VPN, except it's only a 3 port switch (which is fine, I have another switch), but it doesn't tell me the number of VPN clients I can have. Can any users of this verify a number for me? Thanks.
Belkin - New to the scene, and I'm wary of touching them.
So, if there are any side by side comparisons/benchmarks, throughput benchies, SPI tests, anything of good knowledge, please let me know. Thanks for reading.
I'd basically jump for a 3Com anyday, but their $100 broadband router doesn't do VPN. They do have a $1500 router which you can buy a $500 software upgrade to do VPN...but c'mon, lets be realistic.
So I'm faced w/ lesser-quality choices. So, here are my thoughts and previous experiences.Linksys - works, if it works. If it doesn't, tough luck. Out of the 4 Cable/DSL routers I've gotten from Linksys, 3 of 'em had serious problems with connectivity. Such that, whenever you plug it into the "switch" in the back of the router, the computer it was connected to would think the cable has been disconnected, about once every 2 minutes. So bad that I wouldn't be able to get an IP or anything. In one instance, it didn't drop connection...but I was plagued with messages like "the network is busy". After throwing all these back onto the original 3Com hub, and uplinking that to the router, I was able to run everything smoothly (so it's definitely not a wiring problem). So basically, I'd had my share of problems with Linksys, and I'll stay away. And for the around $150 price tag for a VPN router (although it claims 70 concurrent VPN connections) that doesn't even have SPI, they're definitely last place on my list.
Netgear - I haven't had any experience w/ their broadband routers, but I have 5 network cards, 2 hubs and 3 switches from them, and I've been nothing but satisfied. Their VPN router FVS318 is an 8 port switch, 8 VPN connections, and SPI firewall capability, which is very very attractive. They also have a 30 dollar rebate, so, at buy.com, this brings to price to 83. Shipped free.
D-Link - I've owned a hub from them (note the past tense) and I had nothing but collisions...sooo...present your arguments to sway my position against their whole brand.
SMC - Loved the company, until Microsoft stopped developing drivers for them (thanks Microsoft, you rock). Anyways, never had a problem with any of their NICs, but haven't tried their hubs/switches/routers. The Barricade Plus Cable/DSL router (SMC7004FW) boasts basically the same stuff as the Netgear, SPI, VPN, except it's only a 3 port switch (which is fine, I have another switch), but it doesn't tell me the number of VPN clients I can have. Can any users of this verify a number for me? Thanks.
Belkin - New to the scene, and I'm wary of touching them.
So, if there are any side by side comparisons/benchmarks, throughput benchies, SPI tests, anything of good knowledge, please let me know.
Thanks for reading.
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