Looking for a router

[wakerider017]

Hey guys I am shopping for a wired router for my Macs...


All I need is a simple wired router... (I am using it strictly for "firewall" protection...)

I already have a 8 port switch and will soon be buying an airport express.

I was looking at the Netgear RP614 Router.... What do you think?

 

[peterjhill]

I have that router.. it is okay. If I had to buy a new one, I would probably go for Linksys, since they are owned by Cisco and I am a Network Engineer who likes Cisco.

Peter

 

[kalun]

I am currently using a Buffalo router with my macbook and various other devices. No complains so far.

As for netgear, I had bad experience with Netgear not getting the IP from the ISP. However, that could just be an individual case.

 

[SMM]

Netgear is generally superior to all of the consumer peripheral network hardware. Linksys enjoyed a sinister reputation in its' early years. They did get better after being acquired by Cisco. However, I have never seen anything but very sporadic, and usually small, issues with Netgear. They have always been a solid performer.

 

[macg4]

i have seen many linksys routers crap out after short amounts of time. i would stay clear of them and go for a Buffalo or SMC

 

[ormandj]

I have that router.. it is okay. If I had to buy a new one, I would probably go for Linksys, since they are owned by Cisco and I am a Network Engineer who likes Cisco.

Peter

I'm the owner of a data center, and I *hate* Cisco. Even if I *loved* Cisco, I wouldn't buy Linksys products. Cisco may "own" Linksys, but Linksys is in a different bracket altogether from Cisco. I *loathe* Cisco products, and Linksys is about 250-gazillion steps below Cisco. Do yourself a favor, and don't buy Linksys. Especially if you plan to have many open connections at the same time, because that tends to "lock up" Linksys consumer models. (A great example would be running Bit-Torrent connected to many peers.)

I've generally had the least amount of problems with Netgear stuff. The FVS318v3 is a good entry-level router/firewall/vpn device. The truth is though, all consumer level networking hardware really does suck. So no matter what you get, there will be the good and the bad. Step up to Juniper or another good vendor and you'll see a world of difference. Then again, on a residential connection, it would be wasted.

 

[peterjhill]

I'm the owner of a data center, and I *hate* Cisco.

I worked at Amazon as an NE for a couple of years, once you get to that level of demand for uptime, no network vendor can really support the demands of management. Networks are complicated things and when one needs to run the newer code to support the latest hardware to support the millions of packets per second... unfortunately bugs will be found and they will take time to fix. It isn't just Cisco.

Even if I *loved* Cisco, I wouldn't buy Linksys products. Cisco may "own" Linksys, but Linksys is in a different bracket altogether from Cisco.

Yep, it is in the home/consumer level. Totally different beast. As with any company merger, it takes time for things to sort themselves out. I have noticed in the last six months that it seems that things are coming together for Linksys and they seem to be getting more resources from Cisco.

I've generally had the least amount of problems with Netgear stuff. The FVS318v3 is a good entry-level router/firewall/vpn device. The truth is though, all consumer level networking hardware really does suck.

amen on that. Feel lucky if two months goes by without having to reload your AP/router/switch/whatever

So no matter what you get, there will be the good and the bad. Step up to Juniper or another good vendor and you'll see a world of difference. Then again, on a residential connection, it would be wasted.

Yeah, Juniper really does not have anything a consumer would want to pay for.

What I am considering as a Cisco ASA 5505. I am a vehement hater of the Pix, but the ASA actually impresses me. What I really want is a home router that has a CLI. I can't stand web guis for my network gear. Give me ssh with a CLI and no menu based systems either darn it!