Has anyone had any experience with both software routing and hardware routing? Right now, we have cable broadband access split 4 ways using internet connection sharing on a computer that no one uses. We're experiencing lag spikes and I was wondering if anyone tried using this method to share internet and the method of buying a hardware router. I hear two stories ... one that says our speed should increase and lag spikes will be less frequent and another that says there is no difference.
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Software Routing vs. Hardware Routing
- Thread starter Ranger X
- Start date
Electric Amish
Elite Member
It's all done via software. It just depends on the "software".
amish
amish
Heh, I was about to say that. Its all software. However "hardware" routers have cpus designed to do only one thing....route. Hardware routing definitely faster than windows ICS DEPENDING ON THE ROUTER. Don't expect to pay <$500 for a hardware router that will be faster than windows ICS.
Lx
Lx
In general, security issues involves:
1. Unauthorized Internet traffic coming in (from the Internet to your computer).
2. Unauthorized Information going out (from your Hard Drive to some one else Web Server).
The latter is done mainly by programs that are ?calling home?. Unfortunately, the amount of programs that are calling home is growing by the day. (A scan of my humble HD shows about 80 non-Internet related programs, that are capable to get on the Internet).
Talking about Entry Level Hardware Routers? Firewall. The Router?s firewall secures mainly the Incoming traffic, to secure the Outgoing aspect you need to add Software firewall.
In addition, Software Firewall is much more flexible then the discussed hardware firewalls. I.e. software firewall usually can control and block more ports, and bands of ports. In case that you need to put one computer in the DMZ, you can flexibly protect it with software firewall.
Thus, many Router owners use the combination of Hardware, Software Firewall.
Popular software Firewall package is ZoneAlarm (free).
ZoneAlarm Download
You can check your system's security here, log to the following page, scroll down, and click on Shields Up.
Gibson Default Page.
1. Unauthorized Internet traffic coming in (from the Internet to your computer).
2. Unauthorized Information going out (from your Hard Drive to some one else Web Server).
The latter is done mainly by programs that are ?calling home?. Unfortunately, the amount of programs that are calling home is growing by the day. (A scan of my humble HD shows about 80 non-Internet related programs, that are capable to get on the Internet).
Talking about Entry Level Hardware Routers? Firewall. The Router?s firewall secures mainly the Incoming traffic, to secure the Outgoing aspect you need to add Software firewall.
In addition, Software Firewall is much more flexible then the discussed hardware firewalls. I.e. software firewall usually can control and block more ports, and bands of ports. In case that you need to put one computer in the DMZ, you can flexibly protect it with software firewall.
Thus, many Router owners use the combination of Hardware, Software Firewall.
Popular software Firewall package is ZoneAlarm (free).
ZoneAlarm Download
You can check your system's security here, log to the following page, scroll down, and click on Shields Up.
Gibson Default Page.
Ya but the problem is, in my experience, none of the software NAT solutions seem to work very well. I tried ICS, Winproxy, Sygate and one other, AnalogX maybe, can't remember for sure. None of them worked very well. They were all fairly unstable. All had trouble at times with DHCP and required constant reboots to get all the computers on. And it was considerably slower than my router. Lag spikes were one of my main complaints with all of them. Strangely since taking that second nic out of the host machine and hooking up a router, everything on the network is more stable.
Router is just so darned easy. It just works all the time. It should really be a no brainer unless you REALLY don't want to spend the money for the router.
Router is just so darned easy. It just works all the time. It should really be a no brainer unless you REALLY don't want to spend the money for the router.
The last 2 posts are comparing "hardware" routers with "windows" solutions. IMHO this is not really
a fair comparison. It is heavily dependent upon the stability of the windows version you are using.
There are many *nix based alternatives that are very capable. To name a few: Smoothwall, LRP, Freesco,
Oxygen and many more. I use smoothwall here at work and it is very easy to use, reliable and
configurable. I have had an LRP router at home running for a year and a half. It has had 3 reboots,
because I needed to move it, but other than that has run flawlessly.
a fair comparison. It is heavily dependent upon the stability of the windows version you are using.
There are many *nix based alternatives that are very capable. To name a few: Smoothwall, LRP, Freesco,
Oxygen and many more. I use smoothwall here at work and it is very easy to use, reliable and
configurable. I have had an LRP router at home running for a year and a half. It has had 3 reboots,
because I needed to move it, but other than that has run flawlessly.
<< It is heavily dependent upon the stability of the windows version you are using. >>
<< Exactly! >>
But if you read the rest of my post, there are much better OSes for routing than windows.
In fact a guy passing notes between the cables might be faster and more stable. j/k
If you have a machine that no one uses already, download smoothwall.
If your nics are PCI, it will autodetect them with no problem and the install should take less than a half hour.
Very little hassle and best of all, no more money. And truth be told, you'll have a stable and much more
configurable router than a cheap little box.
Another key here, is that you can learn a bit about network security in the process and maybe keep your
network safer from outside intrusion.
In fact a guy passing notes between the cables might be faster and more stable. j/k
That really isn't too far from the truth!
Can't argue with any of your points, its jut not the easiest solution. 99% of users will never need more configuration than is available with most new routers with up-to-date firmware and most won't want to mess with all the setup.
Personally, I wouldn't mind setting one up and learning about it, but my time is valuable. A lot of people aren't going to want to sit and learn Linux or new commands/protocols. Consider the several hours spent reading, setting up and coming back here for questions to get it right vs. $79 for a router and be done with it. Once you divide it out by the hour, I'll bet you don't save much $$$.
Besides, I can always find some better use for a box whether it be backup storage, loading new software or OS's to learn so I don't screw up main systems... whatever. That stuff is worth more than $79 to me.
Anyway, we are way off the point. This is really not an argument about the best way to setup but rather a whatever floats your boat question.
[edit]
I just read the manual for that software. It is pretty cool. But I'd still rather have the ease of a router and use the box for something else.
That really isn't too far from the truth!
Can't argue with any of your points, its jut not the easiest solution. 99% of users will never need more configuration than is available with most new routers with up-to-date firmware and most won't want to mess with all the setup.
Personally, I wouldn't mind setting one up and learning about it, but my time is valuable. A lot of people aren't going to want to sit and learn Linux or new commands/protocols. Consider the several hours spent reading, setting up and coming back here for questions to get it right vs. $79 for a router and be done with it. Once you divide it out by the hour, I'll bet you don't save much $$$.
Besides, I can always find some better use for a box whether it be backup storage, loading new software or OS's to learn so I don't screw up main systems... whatever. That stuff is worth more than $79 to me.
Anyway, we are way off the point. This is really not an argument about the best way to setup but rather a whatever floats your boat question.
[edit]
I just read the manual for that software. It is pretty cool. But I'd still rather have the ease of a router and use the box for something else.
All Routers and Firewalls are based on software.
What hardware Routing etc. means is that the software is embedded into a device like EPROM, and has its own processing components, and memory assigned in the box that you buy.
As a result it does not bother the main CPU or does not need to read from the hard drive, or waste RAM.
I.e. separate hardware component are faster and more efficient then any software solution that is PC dependent. It is possible that some Linux solutions are more efficient then Win XX solutions, but they will never be faster then a separate hardware solution.
Given the fact that the majority of the people are using Windows, and probably never heard about Linux, young guys (and young in heart) like to use the word Linux as a mean "to get one over you", in the majority of the cases bothering with Linux is not justified.
After few months of electricity usage, Linux box cost more then buying an entry level Route.
What hardware Routing etc. means is that the software is embedded into a device like EPROM, and has its own processing components, and memory assigned in the box that you buy.
As a result it does not bother the main CPU or does not need to read from the hard drive, or waste RAM.
I.e. separate hardware component are faster and more efficient then any software solution that is PC dependent. It is possible that some Linux solutions are more efficient then Win XX solutions, but they will never be faster then a separate hardware solution.
Given the fact that the majority of the people are using Windows, and probably never heard about Linux, young guys (and young in heart) like to use the word Linux as a mean "to get one over you", in the majority of the cases bothering with Linux is not justified.
After few months of electricity usage, Linux box cost more then buying an entry level Route.
win2k server + isa 2k + space computer with at least 2 NICs = good firewall + router solution.
if you have windows machines behind the firewall, then isa will be more functional and easier than most other software firewalls. especially the linux ones.
ics is f#*@ing ghetto though.
if you have windows machines behind the firewall, then isa will be more functional and easier than most other software firewalls. especially the linux ones.
ics is f#*@ing ghetto though.
I agree that a cheap router is probably the simplest and most time and cost effective solution.
The thing that I hope people will begin to realize is that there is more to security of a home
network than running ICS or grabbing the first router off the shelves. Building one yourself
helps immensely in that process.
If more people spent a few weekends creating a proper firewalling router, I'll bet the instances
of denial of service attacks and other such nuisances would decrease significantly.
I'm done ranting. I should have made this point in my first post.
The thing that I hope people will begin to realize is that there is more to security of a home
network than running ICS or grabbing the first router off the shelves. Building one yourself
helps immensely in that process.
If more people spent a few weekends creating a proper firewalling router, I'll bet the instances
of denial of service attacks and other such nuisances would decrease significantly.
I'm done ranting. I should have made this point in my first post.
Synopsis:
ICS Sucks as do most Windows based routing apps.
Linksys/Netgear/SMC etc routers are the easiest, most efficient way for many users. Easy setup, low downtime, not much to fix if its not working. If you check out the hot deals forum, these can often be had for $50 or less.
If you want to learn something, or you take pride in the fact that you made your own router. You can and it will work great with lots of features.
ICS Sucks as do most Windows based routing apps.
Linksys/Netgear/SMC etc routers are the easiest, most efficient way for many users. Easy setup, low downtime, not much to fix if its not working. If you check out the hot deals forum, these can often be had for $50 or less.
If you want to learn something, or you take pride in the fact that you made your own router. You can and it will work great with lots of features.
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