You are looking for Speed? No difference.
You are looking for reliabilty? Pray to you Devine of choice.
As related to Entry Level Cable/DSL Router.
Cable/DSL Routers main function is to provide Network Address Translation (NAT). It is necessary to provide NAT when you share one Internet connection so that each computer will send, and receive the Internet information that belongs to it.
By product of this NAT is simple but effective Firewall.
NAT is implemented in a way that each computer can get only the info that was requested from inside of the LAN. As a result "rouge" info. from the Internet can not get in (since it was not requested). The NAT Firewall just blocks en-mass every thing that tries to come in none requested.
So what do you do if you want a system that can answer request coming independently in?
The "Shut Gun" approach is to put one computer on the
DMZ (De Militarized Zone) i.e. no military no one is protecting you. Under this setting one of your Network computers is out in front of the Firewall, thus all the ports are Opened. Be careful while being on the DMZ the computer is exposed to the Internet
Port Opening - Individual and few Ports can be open for special communication.
E.g. In a case you want to keep an ftp server, to let your friends download files.
You open the port and info can come in through this port regardless of the NAT (e.g. for ftp you open port 21).
Port Range - Most Routers let you define a range of ports to be kept open (e.g. 5000-6000).
Port Triggering - Some applications connect to the Internet by using port X expecting an answer through port Y. Port Triggering makes sure that port Y is available to receive the answer.
The way to open a port depends on the Router, and or Firewall program. Each manufacture has his own "Shticks" to go about it. Each one has his way of organizing the Menus. You have to read the Manual in order to know how to do it. The term that it is referred to could be Port Mapping, Port Opening, etc. In a Virtual Server.
List of ports that are associated with various applications can be found here:
Link to:
Special Applications - Port List.
SPI is the next level of protection offered currently by the newest Cable/DSL Routers. It adds an actual examination of the Network Outbound and Inbound Packets, thus can make a content decision.
The following is an Example of the SPI help file on my Router (SMC Barricade).
Allow all to pass except those match the specified rules
Deny all to pass except those match the specified rules
You can specify 8 rules for each directions:
inbound or outbound. For each rule, you can define the following:
Source IP address
Source port address
Destination IP address
Destination port address
Protocol: TCP or UDP or both.
For source or destination IP address, you can define a single IP address (4.3.2.1) or a range of IP addresses (4.3.2.1-4.3.2.254). An empty implies all IP addresses.
Each rule can be enabled or disabled individually.
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SPI might help businesses to control their employs ?recreational? surfing,
SPI can help parents to better protect their kids.
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More about protection here:
Basic Protection for Broadband Internet Installation.
About UPnP you can read here:
Universal Plug n' Play.
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