Help me choose a Router for a small office

[Ram0]

Right now @ my office we have 8 pc's and a NT server running off a Linksys BEFSR41 (4 port router) Thats also hooked up to a linksys 10 port switch. Our ISP is Pacbell and it Uses PPPoE so we need those capabilities. The problem is that the router goes down alot, I usually have to reboot it a few times a week because it freezes or drops connections. Ive had alot better luck with a netgear rt314. It also has some problems renewing/releasing ip's w/ DHCP. All of the PCS are usually active on the LAN because they run accounting/database software off an NT server. I was taking a look @ the Netgear RO318 (8 port router), then I would only need 1 extra port off the switch. Any suggestions to make this setup more stable?

 

[netsysadmin]

I have that exact router and have NO problems with it at all...what connections is it dropping...you internet connections??...you only have 10 PC's why not run static IP's....have you upgraded to the latest firmware??...and have you monitored the incoming and outgoing traffic for problems?...sometimes a hacker scanning from the out can cause problems

 

[Tiger]

I've got a BEFSR41 V2 running three machines to the net using DHCP.
Nary a problem.

 

[jkoXP]

try the SMC 8 port router/switch...... i have it. it works very nice so far....

 

[Ram0]

I guess what I have should be working correctly. How would I go about setting up the IP's to static in the router? Would each PC have its DNS set to point to the router or would they point to my ISP's DNS. I think the gateway would be setup to point to the router for each PC. The firmware is the original firmware that it came with.

 

[netsysadmin]

Well if you have never upgraded the firmware I would try that first...that could defintely help your problems....and if you later decide to go static for the IP's you just point the DNS to your ISP's DNS and the gateway points to your router lan IP...good luck

 

[Thor86]

Netgear makes great soho routers. But try and stay away from any re-furbished ones. They may be great looking deals, but I've heard it is hit/miss.