Whats a better router? Linksys or D-link?

[aka1nas]

The 4 port Dlink is $30 after rebate this week at BB, but I was under the impression that the Linksys is better. I currently have a netgear rt314 and hate it as it seems to drop HTTP packets randomly, often requiring me to reset the router several times a day. Also, It seems that the Dlink has a print server feature which would be nice. Does the Linksys have this also? I am looking at the Linksys BEFSR41 and the Dlink DL704P. I am also wondering which router performs better, and particulary if they have features such as DMZ and MAC address spoofing. I play a lot of games and do file-sharing, so I think a DMZ is crucial. My netgear doesn't have this , and its really hard to get good connections with most P2P software.

 

[Dizway]

Dlink print server works pretty well, it has DMZ but works 50% of the time, it has MAC cloning feature and pretty easy to setup, it has a RENEW IP FOREVER feature. The interface is easier than Linksys, but the Linksys seems to have more advanced features that aren't really used.

 

[aka1nas]

is the DMZ on the Linksys more effective than the Dlink then?

 

[Dizway]

I have had 1 experience with Linksys and DMZ works perfectly (had to disable dhcp and assign static ip). I have had experiences with a few Dlink routers and DMZ did not always work, neither does port forwarding, no idea why.

 

[nihil]

<< I have had 1 experience with Linksys and DMZ works perfectly (had to disable dhcp and assign static ip). I have had experiences with a few Dlink routers and DMZ did not always work, neither does port forwarding, no idea why. >>




so you're saying that in order to get DMZ to work with a linksys router you have to disable dhcp and assign each machine a static ip, right? then just specify which machine is the DMZ host? i could never seem to get DMZ nor port forwarding to work with my linksys router.

 

[aka1nas]

So how well does the DMZ on the Linksys work when you have it up?

 

[nihil]

<< So how well does the DMZ on the Linksys work when you have it up? >>



well....i'm still trying to get it to work as it will not work while i have dhcp enabled for some reason.

 

[Dizway]

<<

<< So how well does the DMZ on the Linksys work when you have it up? >>



well....i'm still trying to get it to work as it will not work while i have dhcp enabled for some reason. >>



Basically yeah, my friend has the 1st generation Linksys 4port router... DMZ only works with DHCP disabled, static ip addresses on each PC and also entered dns, gateway ip. Didn't have to do much of anything else.. DMZ works good. I know it works cuz the PC that is DMZd can use netmeeting (call and receive) and xfer files. DLINK sucks for dmz... no matter how you try it, some routers work and some don't.

 

[Thor86]

Forget those, and get a Netgear RT314 or a RT311 if you can still find them. Supports port ranging and has an excellent albeit slightly difficult to setup packet filtering feature. Supports PPoE, DHCP, Static IP, Mac cloning, etc.

 

[aka1nas]

I have the rt314 right now and that is my problem. It doesn't have a DMZ, and it drops HTTP packets, forcing me to reset it a couple times a day.

 

[nairi]

SMC features all the bells and whistles, and everything works great, best router in my opinion. Its all about the BARRICADES

 

[Tallgeese]

<< Its all about the BARRICADES >>

Me likum Barricade too!

 

[manly]

Isn't the issue how DMZ is being used?

If you want an internal machine to expose open ports/services to the world, doesn't the internal machine technically require a public IP, and routing between the Internet and itself? And DMZ just means that firewall does not do packet filtering to/from that host.

Otherwise, you're just doing NAT + port forwarding, even if these SOHO routers call it DMZ.

D-Link routers support port ranging, so it basically supports any application you can setup.

 

[NesuD]

<< I have the rt314 right now and that is my problem. It doesn't have a DMZ, and it drops HTTP packets, forcing me to reset it a couple times a day. >>


Actually that rt314 does have a dmz feature they just don't call it dmz. In the lists where you forward your ports for to a specific ip there will be one ip address line that you cannot specify a port in as it already says default there that is the dmz just put the ip of your dmz machine in the line with default in the port list and you should be wide open.


<< D-Link routers support port ranging, so it basically supports any application you can setup. >>


The Linksys befsr41 also supports port ranging.

 

[manly]

<<


<< D-Link routers support port ranging, so it basically supports any application you can setup. >>


The Linksys befsr41 also supports port ranging. >>



Right, I'm just saying maybe the term DMZ is being misused or misunderstood.

For the DMZ host, do these SOHO routers really mean that they'll automagically forward every incoming port to the private IP DMZ host? Because it seems like some users expect DMZ to do just that.

I'm referring to the traditional role of a DMZ host in a firewalled network.

 

[aka1nas]

the port forwarding feature doesn't seem to make any difference, and either way, it still drops packets.

 

[manly]

<< the port forwarding feature doesn't seem to make any difference, and either way, it still drops packets. >>



Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? Honestly, if Netgear routers exhibited this problem, a lot of customers would be in an uproar. So either the problem is fixed by newer firmware, it is extremely obscure/rare, or it's not the router's fault.

I think DMZ in theory is a useful feature, but my understanding of DMZ is that it doesn't logically apply to a NAT + private IP LAN. A private IP can be either static or DHCP from the router; it doesn't really matter from a TCP/IP standpoint.

Unless these SOHO routers implement DMZ as transparently forwarding *all* listening ports to the private IP DMZ host. DMZ also implies any outbound packet filtering rules are neglected as well (for routers with firewalling capabilities).

I use port forwarding myself in a Compaq router, and it works fine. Port forwarding isn't for the uninitiated, but I think it is the correct solution to this problem. In fact, as an aside, I've even (software) forwarded a forwarded port to a VMware guest OS, and it still works.

I do own the D-Link DI-704 router, but don't use it with a broadband connection so I can't vouch for its DMZ implementation.

 

[Ronstang]

<< Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? Honestly, if Netgear routers exhibited this problem, a lot of customers would be in an uproar. So either the problem is fixed by newer firmware, it is extremely obscure/rare, or it's not the router's fault. >>



I and many other RT314 users have experienced the exact same problems and the problem is niether obscure ore rare but Netgear refuses to admit that their product might have a problem. I have spent a few hours on tech support calls with Netgear and the problem still persisted. I have upgraded to the latest firmware and that was not the solution. The RT 314 made surfing the NET a painful experience with constant dropouts and lockups. I finally solved the problem by replacing the RT 314 with a DI-704 and for the last month my network and internet experience has been a pure pleasure. On Tuesday I replaced the DI-704 with a DI-704P and the print server function is great and this router looks alot better in my rack since the cables now exit the back.

Someday when I have some time I will play with the Netgear some more and continue to hound their tech support until this problem is solved or they send me a new unit, the only problem is that the D-Link routers work so well and are easy to setup that I am having a hard time getting motivated to plug that Netgear piece of crap back in to my network.

 

[manly]

Ronstang,

Thanks for the clarification. I'll be sure to avoid Netgear products unless I hear better news.

 

[Tiger]

<< get a Netgear RT314 or a RT311 if you can still find them. Supports port ranging and has an excellent albeit slightly difficult to setup packet filtering feature. Supports PPoE, DHCP, Static IP, Mac cloning, etc. >>



I've got a LinkSys BEFSR41 v.2 (4 port) and it does all of that.
The setup utility is easy. If you can run a browser you can setup this router.
The LinkSys documentation will hold your hand all the way through too.

I'd buy another one.

 

[Rhi]

Another vote for Linksys here. I have a BEFSR41 as well, and have had nothing but good things to say about it. I also use same model in clients' homes, and have had good luck with their wireless products as well. A long time ago I bought some generic router,(didn't have a generic price), and immediately after installing it I had 3-5% PL on game servers I frequent. Took it out, went back to ICS...no packet loss. ROFL

-Rhi

 

[Oakenfold]

Got a linksys befsr41 here, I love mine, I know very little about networking to boot and I was able to set it up...but I"m learning alot
I guess that's what counts..