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Netgear RT311 DSL/Cable Internet Gateway Router Review
The RT311 is a simple, easy-to-install solution for sharing a broadband Internet connection for small office / home office (SOHO) users. It's about as close to plug and play as you're likely to get.
Most situations can be covered with the Windows-based installation tool. You'll need all the pertinent info from your provider (IP address, gateway address, DNS address, netmask, etc.), but with this in-hand, the graphical installer makes it easy.
More advanced needs, and people who frequently play online multi-user games, will need more expertise to use the RT311. Advanced configurations can only be made by telnetting to the box itself, or by connecting a serial cable and using a terminal program. This won't be an easy task for average users, and while the manual is well-written and thorough, it can't (and doesn't) train newbies on the basics; some level of skill is assumed.
Its "firewall" security is centered around NAT (network address translation), which does afford some level of security for your network. (It's also what makes connection sharing work.) In short, private IP addresses are assigned to PCs on your network, and the RT311 remaps connections to a single public IP address assigned by your provider. In this way, your PC is not directly accessible from the outside world, since by default, unsolicited incoming TCP/IP connections are denied access to the network. That's fine, but for real security, look to a SonicWall or something more advanced. The RT311 won't likely do much for certain types of hacker attacks, like Denial of Service (DoS), "ping of death," IP spoofing, and the like, which some more sophisticated solutions do address.
NAT also causes problems for some applications. For example, IRC will be tough to use, because most IRC servers require IDENT, and IDENT requests won't pass through the device to your desktop. Dialpad.com, Napster uploads to other users, and a variety of other applications will not work in the RT311's default configuration. You'll need to configure "SUA" for this (i.e., port remapping), but again, that requires telnet or a terminal program, and non-technical users will likely find this a challenge (at least at first).
In addition, your port remapping capabilities are limited. You have your choice of remapping everything to a particular machine on the network (not a good idea, and defeats all firewall security, so use it temporarily and sparingly), or mapping selected ports by number. But you can configure a maximum of only six (6) of those, which may not be enough for power users or networks with many users and applications. (The D-Link and Linksys solutions that compete with the RT311 offer just slightly more flexibility here.)
Using a hardware solution like the RT311 is, in my experience, far better and more reliable than software-based solutions like WinProxy. (But of course, WinProxy offers web caching, content filtering, and other features that the RT311 and its competitors do not. But I favor the reliability of a dedicated piece of hardware to loading down my PC with yet another task.)
Otherwise, the unit does as advertised. It's economical, well supported, well warranted, and well built. Its manual, which is supplied electronically, is as good as they come. And most everything you'll need is in the box (including the basic required cables).
One final note: Be aware that this is a real, Ethernet-based solution. You'll need a 10-Base-T or 100-Base-T local area network (LAN), including hubs or switches as needed, and your DSL or cable modem will also need 10-Base-T Ethernet for hook-up. (This box is not really the right choice for sharing dial-up or ISDN connections.)
Netgear RT311 DSL/Cable Internet Gateway Router Overview
Netgear's RT311 Internet access gateway router allows up to 32 users secure admission to the Internet from a single ISP (Internet service provider) account. It works in conjunction with DSL or cable modems for high-speed Internet access.
Compatible with 10/100 Mbps networks, the Netgear RT311 establishes a firewall that prevents hackers and unauthorized users from interfering in your business. NAT protocols hide the local IP addresses from outside Internet users. Port forwarding and customizable filters allow only authorized users to gain access to your site and files.
The Netgear RT311 is compatible with Internet conferencing, RealAudio, RealVideo, and most chat programs. FirstGear, a Windows-based configuration tool, enables simple installation. All the necessary cables are included, as is a setup guide.
Netgear provides a five-year warranty on parts and labor.
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