Small office network, router problems, worth replacing?

[sswany]

We use a BEFSX41 Linksys router connected to a Linksys 8 port switch for a small office network with a broadband connection. Since the router and internet have been installed we lose connection on some or all of the computers to the internet, however the network storage device used in the office continues to be seen.

The router's DHCP table is also not showing some or all of the computers connected to it regularly. We have never had everyone on the network show up on the table.

I'm wondering, due to Linksys' lower end consumer line quality going down a tad, if it would be worth replacing the router with something a bit better (perhaps the RV016 [16 port router] from Linksys) or from another company perhaps. We'd like to keep the cost down if we can, but the $400 for the Linksys doesn't seem bad if it will work.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be going on, or any remedies?

Thanks for the help.
Scott

 

[watts3000]

How many people are in the office and what all services do you guys run. I mean do they vpn do you have any servers such as mail ftp or web set up.

 

[sswany]

There are 9 computers total and one NAS. No one uses VPN. The only thing they use is the internet and they all access the NAS. The NAS stores the common files for the software they all run, but that's it.

I feel like maybe upgrading to something like that may be over kill, but it's just irritating that the internet loses the connection like this and that no one shows up on the DHCP table, like maybe it's the router's problem.

 

[watts3000]

I would get something like a netgear fvs 318 thats what I normally set up for small businesses with about 9 to 10 people. What type of nas do they use and is it raided?

 

[sswany]

The NAS is a Snap 2200 Server set up for RAID.

The Netgear FVS318 looks about like what I had in mind. Something for more than a couple home users. Is there any reason why you recommend the Netgear over a different company? Or why that specific one?

 

[watts3000]

Well for the money it can't be beat. I've tried other products for small business use and they don't cut it an example would be linksys. Now if you want to step your budget up I would reccomend sonicwall or watchguard, but for what you are using the netgear fvs318 is fine. Are you guys on a per to per network there or do you have a domain set up. I used the netgear fvs318 for a small business setup I did last december they also have a nas. I also put up an active directory domain for them running on 2 dell poweredge servers . Its a small company and they hit these servers hard and the netgear just keeps on going. Also the fvs318 is one of the few soho firewalls that has great vpn support and features statefull packet inpspection.

 

[sswany]

No domain is setup. They are all just on the same workgroup. Other than the NAS for some common files, the computers really don't interact with each other. Just the software and email/internet stuff.

I'll look more into the Netgear. 8 ports should be enough for the network as some of them are already on a small D-Link switch.


On a separate note: What are the 4 non-transmit/receive wires for in cat5 cabling? 3 of the computers in the office have been there the longest and whoever wired it originally used existing phone system wiring (like 50 pair wiring) but only used 4 wire instead of 8 (the 4 Rx and Tx wires). The computers with this don't have link status lights, but I've kind of ruled this out as a problem with the network since the shares still work and everyone goes down, not just those 3.

 

[watts3000]

Sorry can't speak on wiring I'm more into system admin type work. Yo won't be disappointed with your netgear though.

 

[sswany]

I'll look more into it.

Thanks for your help. I reallllly hope that replacing these 2 boxes will fix these problems. It's getting old.

 

[sswany]

So we bought the router and went to put it in, but the person who plugged it in (I'm not there to do it right now) said that there was no Link light for the broadband connection, so we'll give it another shot and see if we can't get it to work.