What should I get? I have cable, a hib connected to the cable box, and my computers attached to the hub. Each of them (3) has it's own IP from my ISP, so this isn't a problem. But, my software firewall is just not hacking (pun intended!) it.

So, I guess I'm looking for a outer with built-in firewall, then I can lose two of the IPs and assign the third to the router, set my PCs up with non-routing IPs, add a print server (what a concept!) and all is well.

If it was only this easy. I also use VPN software to tunnel into work, so I have to be able to handle this. Not really interested in woreless (yet).

Who wants to offer up some opinions?

Thanks.

If you have cable or dsl get a linksys firewall dsl/cable router. It will act as a dhcp server for your boxes or you can manually set them up. It will request an ip from your isp which will be assigned to the router on the outside(public side) and then by default will assign 192.168.1.1 to itself(private side). The cool thing is you shouldn't have to configure it for vpn unless your going to vpn from work to home. If you need to vpn from home to work it shouldn't matter. It works using a nat configuration with dynamic ports. So if it knows who you are and are requesting out to the internet from the privavate side of the router 192.168.x.x) it will open up the requested port. It checks packets coming back to make sure the source was initiated from you. I use cicso vpn software at home on my linksys and didn't have to configure anything on the router. Make sure if you get a router you change the admin password or someone will hack in with the default password.

I talked with a couple folks here who have routers, one uses Linksys (my office-mate) and the other uses Netgear (IT support type). I went with the Netgear - I'll see how it works tonight...

Thanks.

I use a Cisco PIX firewall, but that may be a bit beyond the budget you have in mind...however they are the best in the business IMHO...

Wow, isn't it most excellent when things work the way you expect them to? Followed the directions, and I'm back up. Everything works!!!

Originally posted by Cecil:
Wow, isn't it most excellent when things work the way you expect them to? Followed the directions, and I'm back up. Everything works!!! I have a netgear router and it does work good. Now do you really need 3 IP addresses from you're ISP? Seems like you could save some money by dropping 2 of them now that you have a router and are only using 1.

Now that I have the router working I can dump the other two addresses. ROI is three months.