[lug] More cable modem product Q's

[mikeslugs at attbi.com]

I don't know much about using a Linux box as a router, 
other than using the mandrake connection sharing 
wizard.  As for these single-box router/4-port switch 
jobberdoohickies, I like them for their ease of use.  
They usually set up quite easily and some actually come 
with very advanced features.  I have one that I use with 
my attbi connection that works great (aside from the 
occasional mandatory reset) withn four computers 
connected with it.  The bandwith is plenty for my uses 
(simultaneous downloads of linux distros, music, etc... 
all done while playing online shooters).  Mine has a 
DHCP server, but of course it works with statically 
configured devices just as well.  As for phone 
service... no comment.  Not to scream "BROADBAND OR DIE" 
as I'm sure some people feel.  But if you're playing 
realtime online games and want to enjoy them, there is 
no way around high-speed Internet access (unless you 
want to create your own network (which could be fun by 
the way)).  Imagine the possibilities...
> So far it looks like several of the network cards people have mentioned 
> are available for a good price (3com is the exception, and that only 
> based on price, otherwise they sound like the choice product). I already 
> have a Linksys switch that I am happy with, and the Linksys NICs are 
> available everywhere, many of them below $20, so likely this will be the 
> choice for NICs.
> 
> Now for the cable modem gurus (or those with mild experience that do not 
> consider themselves gurus), I curious about another option. There are 
> dedicated cable modem router/firewall boxes for roughly $90 (one would 
> still need a cable modem) with 4 ports available, and capable of up to 
> 253 machines if you use switches. I will have to drop by a store and 
> read the box, but does anyone know if these are typically limited by 
> working as a proxy, or if they work fine with every box involved having 
> its own DHCP address (I want real addresses to come in from outside with 
> on occasion)?
> 
> Probably that path will not be taken, due to lack of ability to play 
> with QoS and traffic shaping, but maybe I could live without that. The 
> really unfortunate thing is that I have not had a cable modem to play 
> around with, I have no idea what it's latency problems would be for 
> things like real time gaming while someone else is downloading web pages 
> at the same time. I have a fear of getting stuck with a dedicated cable 
> router, when I already have a cheap linux box sitting there with 
> bridging and ipchains and iptables ready. Plus, I have no idea how 
> flexible the firewalling really is in the dedicated router/firewall 
> boxes (the fact that one has a rebate that cuts the price down to about 
> 2/3 is driving my desire to find out and consider it). Does anyone here 
> have cable modem access, and use it with any real time software, 
> including games, and if so, how does it work out if someone were to 
> download web pages at the same time?
> 
> D. Stimits, stimits AT idcomm.com
> 
> PS: My phone service only gets worse. Since the problems started, I have 
> never had over 37.3 kbps, before about a month ago, I never got below 48 
> kbps. Currently, all online games are useless (not that I should worry 
> about games, but heck, it keeps me out of trouble).
> 
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