Router Recommendations

[wsteineker]

Ok, so I'm (finally) setting up a home network and I need some help picking out a router. Currently the setup consists of a PowerMac (OS 10.2) and a RedHat 9 webserver. I will be adding a file server and an XP Pro laptop in the next 6 months. I will need printer sharing. I'm using a cable modem for my broadband. I was wondering what router you guys would recommend for such a setup. Give me wired and wireless options, as the PowerMac and the RedHat box aren't wireless but the laptop will be. I'd like to future proof it if at all possible. Thanks!

 

[depill]

RE: Router

Okey, about the router you have an exisiting cable modem, and I guess that you have it connected to one of the computers. What you can do is build a router of the machine that is connected to modem ( very easy, very easy both with Mac OS X and Linux ).

Then you would be for example Linksys WAP11 if you can settle with 11 MB, but I would recomend Linksys WAP54g, or you can also just go Airport. Then you say that the desktop's are both non-wireless. Well the machine that will act as the router, you will connect to the Access Point via cross-over cable, as it will give the Internet connection, and it is now connected to your wireless network via the Access Point. Then you can either buy a Airport card Extreme card for the PowerMac. if your PowerMac does can't handle it then buy the Airport card. Beaware that Linux does not support 802.11g network adapters ( but it will work if you use the Linux machine as the router ).

I hope this help's a little bit. ( But b.t.w why would like a Winblows machine )

 

[G4scott]

I have a D-Link wireless/wired router. It works just fine. It connects to my cable modem, except my printer is networked, so it just plugs into the network.

SMB routers are pretty good too. I had one before the wireless one, and it had a print server on it, and some other useful features...

 

[lmalave]

I like my D-Link wireless. It has 4 regular ethernet ports in addition to the wireless (currently I just have my PC desktop and my iBook). Works like a charm. Before, when I was "tethered", I used an Asante FriendlyNet router. Also worked like a charm. I would go wireless, though - you'll love it with your XP Pro laptop...

 

[iJon]

i have had both a linksys wireless router and a airport extreme base station. i loved the linksys, just a pain to administer. the linksys had such a good range, hell, i could under neath the pine trees in my yard and browse the web if i wanted to. the airport doesnt have that range, but is so easy to administer.opening ports, firmware upgrades, everything so flawless. i also like my airport because it would convert a wep key into the alphanumeric passphrase i chose, so i dont have to enter in a bunch of good numbers and letters. i could never do that with my linksys, but on the other hand i could be doing something wrong. my current setup right now is my dsl modem to airport extreme, airport extreme to a 8 port hub. i have a usb printer being shared with airport and 3 computers and a laser printer in the hub. then about 3 computers on wireless at my house. i love it. the only reason i got rid of my linksys was because airport extreme card in my powerbook wouldnt work with it, and i didnt feel like messing with it so i bought a ae base station.

iJon

 

[wsteineker]

Thanks all! I appreciate the input.

And Depill, the reason for the Wintel laptop is that my little sister is moving in with me this summer and she got one as part of her scholarship.