The Difference between IP Router & "Residential Gateway"

[Boxerguy]

I'm still trying to work through trying to set up my two computers to share internet access....which comes to me via Satellite.

Someone said an IP router is a must.....another that a "Residential Gateway" is. With a Satellite connection I do need a Firewall. Can someone explain to me the differerence between these two (if there is one)...also is this the best set up for the sharing of an internet connection.?

Thanks

 

[AT]

Residential gateway is just a marketing term for an IP router meant for home use. Essentially it is a basic IP router with user friendly interface and the features that home users most likely require like DHCP server, NAT, printer sharing etc.


Practicallynetworked.com concentrates on home networking and related issues such as sharing a cable/DSL/whatever connection. Have a look there and things should be clearer.

 

[Buddha Bart]

Y'ever seen that Kirsten Dunst movie "Bring It On"?
There's a line where the guy goes "Cheerleaders are but a pathetic subset of dancers"

Thats kinda what a Residential Gateway is to a Router.
Most of them can't route in the normal sense, but rather use NAT to "masquerade" multiple computers behind one IP address.

Many of them will also claim to be Firewall's because of the inherent nature of NAT, that being no-one can directly connect to one of the internal computers unless you specifically forward a port to it. (which, btw, will cause mild headaches when dealing with things like active-mode FTP, identd, p2p programs, and game-servers)

Esentially, for your purposes (sharing a broadband connection between a few PCs) any of the "home gateway internet broadband firewall routers" you can find at bestbuy/staples will work fine.

AT has a good link for you, practicallynetworked.com is totaly targeted at people with your kind of questions.

bart