The 56K modem has been around for about two years now. Unlike processor power, dial-up speeds have not doubled in the past 18 months; they have reached somewhat of a ceiling due to line noise and analog-to-digital conversion. By a large majority, Broadband internet connections, such a xDSL and CATV access are becoming more and more main stream, and are even starting to come to the more rural areas of the nation.
The problem with normal Internet access, be it Dial-up or Broadband, is that it’s natively for use with only one computer. As PCs have become cheaper and cheaper, more and more tend to fill out our homes. Personally I have four in my home, including my laptop. All are connected via out-dated 10/T Ethernet, including a 50ft cable that stretched from the Netgear EN104TP hub downstairs, to a Pentium Pro Internet/email workstation upstairs. I am even sharing Internet access by way of Windows 2000 ICS, which is an option in the Networking Properties when two or more NICs are installed into a machine. It seems odd for me to share my Internet connection via my workstation, but that is the way that I had to get things done.
After finding a great deal on a SMP Tyan Motherboard, along with the processors to run it, and the DRAM to hasten it, I decided that I would run a dedicated server. About the same time, CNetUSA contacted me to ask me to review their up and coming Internet Broadband Gateway. Never turning down a chance to play with a new toy I said, “YES!”
That left me with quite a problem on my hands. I purchased a nice ATA RAID controller for my server, as well at $100 worth of HDs to stripe on it…quite an investment on top of the sweet deal I got on the mobo, CPU, and RAM. There was no turning back on either of the options; the server or the Internet Braodband Gateway.
After talking with a PR rep from CNetUSA, I found out that this Gateway also had a Print Server Built in. It was like it was Christmas all over again. This US$175 (MSRP) Gateway device was going to do everything that my server was going to do. Talk about $300 down the drain.
I received the product and quickly began running over the specs. On paper, this thing looks really, really good.
- Internet WAN port for use with an ADSL or Cable modem
- Printer Sharing capabilities
- Seven (7) 10/100Mbps N-Way Switch ports with RJ-45 connectors built-in
- Complete WEB management using standard Internet browser
- PPTP and PPPoE support
- Users can remote access LAN resources via Internet connection
- NAT Firewall and Internet LAN access Filters
- Internet and 10/100Mbps LAN connection capability in one (1) device
- Multiple LAN Internet users can share one (1) ADSL or Cable modem
- ADSL and Cable modem connection support
To make quick work of that, it supports DSL connections by them Direct of PPPoE, as well as most Direct Cable Modem connections. I am not sure if it supports Cable Modem services that require login properly because I was not able to test this feature.
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