Help! Need router w/more ports...or something :/

[GeneralS]

Just got a new DSL provider, and I've actually got a decent upload speed now. I've found it's no longer out of line to run a (very small) web/mail/ftp/game server (in fact all seem to work very well). However, my router, a Xrouter Pro MIH-130A, will only forward 10 ports (and no ranges). I'd like more, and ranges too. Linksys rep says that they do not offer any routers with more than 10 ports (but do have range forwarding). Is this my only option, or are there good routers out there (this is for home use, no $500+ equipment, and preferably not over $125...) with this requirement? Thanks in advance

 

[Lord Evermore]

If you have an old, unused computer (only needs to be 486 or higher with 16MB of memory) you can set it up as a gateway, using Linux-based router software such as FreeSCO. I don't recall if there's any limitation to the port forwarding in FreeeSCO, but it's guaranteed to be better than 10. You could also do this with an existing Windows machine using software such as Sygate or Wingate, or Internet Connection Sharing (though I'm not sure about ICS's forwarding abilities).

I don't know of any specific routers that have better features in this, as far as home use routers. Certainly a router like a Netopia R910 would be good for your uses, but is a bit more expensive than others (though still under 200 dollars at insight.com). Netopia is a business-class brand name, so it'd certainly be a good piece of equipment. The R910 is basically a cheaper version of the R9100. Unfortunately, it also only has 10BaseT ports on the switch for the LAN.

 

[Ordo1999]

Well you can uplink a port from your router to a switch with more ports... that would be the easist way

 

[JackMDS]

You will not find a solution with Entry Level Routers.

It is either big money or Dedicated computer with Proxy capacities.

Firewall and Proxy Server - HOWTO.

The idea of unlinking Routers to open more ports is not within the realm of reality. Router does not work this way.

A more risky solution is to put one computer on the DMZ, and use Software Firewall to protect it. Most Windows Firewall Programs let you control all the ports for In and Out traffic.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: Ordo1999
Well you can uplink a port from your router to a switch with more ports... that would be the easist way

I think he is talking about port forwarding.

 

[Lord Evermore]

I just checked our SMC Barricade 2404WBR and it has support for 20 port forwarding maps. However it doesn't allow a range of IPs to be forwarded either, which is pretty stupid. It also only allows each forwarding to apply to either TCP or UDP, not both (which in most cases isn't an issue, but it would be nice to have it work that way).

 

[Rwalter63]

Di-link's 714P has the ability to forward 20 ports or ranges of ports. I believe most of D-Link's products have this same feature. D-Link's and SMC's products if I am not mistaken are OEM'd from the same sources so I would imagine SMC's would also suport using ranges.