Best WIRED router for P2P? Thanks.

[gary11364]

I am looking to buy a WIRED 4 port router for p2p use. I would like it to be under $100.00, Easy to configure, good documentation, reliable and of course have good security features.I use Utorrent, broadband cable, XPSP2 Pro. Please give a model number. I am using a Netgear now but it is over 5 years old and has no security features. Thanks in advance.

[Krispy Kritter]

There isn't a "best" model and the type of traffic is irrelevant. Regardless of age, routers all typically have the same security features. Have you checked to see if there is a new IOS for your router? Most are updated fairly often.

I've always used and had good luck with Linksys.

If there is some specific "security feature" that you want/need, then just get a model that has that feature. Otherwise, if you current model is still working, there is no real need to replace it.

[gary11364]

I am not familiar with routers and my present one cannot even be googled. I am looking for an easily configurable router that has reasonable security features. What features should I look for? Again thanks.

[Noahtuck]

Pretty much what he said...

I've always used and had good luck with Linksys.

I've had a couple of dlink and had nothing but problems with them... pain in the arse...

Love the linksys router & network hub i've had for a couple of years, at least....

[FulciLives]

I just bought a D-Link EBR-2310 from NewEgg.com for all of $29.99 + shipping.

Seems to be working well for me under Windows XP Pro SP2 and Linux Mint 4.0 and right now I have one computer connected (I bebop between WinXP and Linux) along with a PS3 and a Linksys VoIP "router" for my telephone

Here is a link to the D-Link EBR-2310 over at NewEgg.com ---> CLICK HERE

If you need info about port forwarding and how to set up a static IP etc. then check out the following website:

http://portforward.com/default.htm

Please note that the D-Link EBR-2310 only comes with MS Windows software but it does include a PDF that talks about setting it up on Linux and a MAC but the software itself seems to be MS Windows only software. Having said that I had no trouble getting it to work under Linux nor with my PS3.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

*** EDIT ***
I should point out that I use uTorrent via WinXP Pro SP2 and KTorrent via Linux Mint and so far I've had no issues but I did find that portforward website to be a big help in getting it all set up.

[Noahtuck]

Seems to be working well for me under Windows XP Pro SP2 and Linux Mint 4.0 and right now I have one computer connected (I bebop between WinXP and Linux) along with a PS3 and a Linksys VoIP "router" for my telephone

It's been at least a few years since i used dlink, but when i had problems with them, it was when i had 4-5 pc's hooked up & networked.
It was just a pain in the ass and life got so much easier when i went to linksys network hubs 8)

Then a friend of my son bought a dlink router about a year ago and we had so many problems trying to network with it he brought it back and bought a linksys router like mine

Maybe it was just us ?? or the model ??
If it works for someone, then it works... i just know i won't ever buy anything dlink again

Oh yeah... although i do have a couple of their network/ethernet cards and they seem to work fine but those are pretty much generic and straight forward.

All my stuff is wired as i don't use laptops and i just like the security & reliability of being hardwired and when anyone brings over their laptop to be worked on i just plug it into a spare cable.

[crusty]

D-Link DGL-4100 10/100/1000Mbps
These are great routers and are gigabit for internal networking you can get them at newegg for $75 check it http://tinyurl.com/2yu3wf

[budz]

Get a LINKSYS 4port Wired router...I never had problems with them....In fact a relative of mine had nothing but problems with a DLINK and their cable internet connection would disconnect or not allow their other computers to connect....Problem was solved when I installed a LINKSYS 4 port wired router....I always suggest LINKSYS but of course the answer I get is the DLINK or BELKEN is on sale and cheaper....As the old saying goes, you pay for what you get.....Just my 2 cents!

[Noahtuck]

Get a LINKSYS 4port Wired router...I never had problems with them....In fact a relative of mine had nothing but problems with a DLINK and their cable internet connection would disconnect or not allow their other computers to connect....Problem was solved when I installed a LINKSYS 4 port wired router....I always suggest LINKSYS but of course the answer I get is the DLINK or BELKEN is on sale and cheaper....As the old saying goes, you pay for what you get.....Just my 2 cents!

D-Link DGL-4100 10/100/1000Mbps
These are great routers and are gigabit for internal networking you can get them at newegg for $75 check it http://tinyurl.com/2yu3wf

We are all talking about $30.00 tp $50.00 routers and you wanna throw in a $75.00 dlink router that i would bet any amount of $$$$$$$ is not as good as a $50.00 linksys router

[crusty]

He did say under $100 and they are good routers, it is just my opinion.

[redwudz]

I've been using a D-Link DGL-4100 router for a couple of years with no problems. I use it and a Trend Micro Gigaibt switch to link together 7 computers and the ethernet. Of course the switch does most of the linking. It was one of the cheapest Gigabit routers at the time.

Of course, that's not really a recommendation, just my experiences.

P2P doesn't require much of anything special in a router. Speed of download is not really an issue, that's more a factor with the uploader speeds and the number of seeds available. My router doesn't do much more than NAT (Network Address Translation) and blocking internet access for my dedicated video servers. I do use fixed IP addresses for my computers, but otherwise, it's at default settings. I also block UPnP with the router and the firewall.

[Noahtuck]

It's all relative 8)

[AlanHK]

Google for bittorrent router and you'll find a bunch of appliances with a hard disk (or connections for an external one) and bittorrent client.
So you can set them going and turn off your PC. I've seen these in the computer malls since a year or so ago. But most seem a bit over your target price.

[Poppa_Meth]

I have an SMC 7004VBR that has never failed me and never once locked up with an P2P apps. The linksys we have at work is a different issue. It's a WRT54GS flashed with DD-WRT firmware. The new firmware helped but it still has lock up issues with P2P.

[gary11364]

Thanks for the advise! Do you think A 3com 3cr858-91 would suffice? Is anyone familiar with it? Ease of setup and configuration. It is highly rated at Newegg. Thanks.

[gary11364]

I guess that as 3com makes mostly business products they would not make consumer friendly products. And that setup and configuration would be best left to high tech people. I have googled and there appears to be almost no information on the internet. Even registration appears to be difficult. I guess that leaves me with D-Link or Linksys.

[Krispy Kritter]

Both brands (at least the models I have seen/used) were very easy to setup and use. I've always been partial to Linksys myself because they have always been reliable. I didn't think D-Link was as straight forward, but that was likely only because it was different from Linksys which I was familiar using.

Either one will serve you well.

[RabidDog]

Safecom .. cheap cheap chinese... but works fine

[Video Head]

Any NATs router will provide the same basic security: only the routers IP address will be visible to the outside world, all connected devices will be using NAT addresess. Some provide for blocking ping requests making it more difficult for someone scanning IP blocks to detect the device. Port blocking or filtering is another feature but I have found on consumer based routers that it is best left alone. A fully managed router, such as Cisco, provides for a host of customizable options including proxy, etc. but these are much more than your budget allows.

Integrate one of the inexpensive NATs routers (if your current one does not have it), enable block WAN request, change the default administrative password to a strong password and use a good software firewall on all connected computers if you are that concerned with security.

A router will not hide you from the world...your ISP provides the IP# that the router uses. Anyone can reverse look-up that IP# to determine your ISP and that IP# is associated to you through them. Everywhere you go on the internet you leave your calling card. If you download malware that opens a backdoor on your system(s) a router will not help you. Some routers allow you to log connections and attempts, but you must monitor the text file logs on a regular basis to determine if malicious activity is taking place...and most people don't or just get tired of doing it and stop.

[gary11364]

Thanks for all of the great advice and info. I have decided to buy a Linksys WRT54GL router.

[Coolpplse]

Thanks for all of the great advice and info. I have decided to buy a Linksys WRT54GL router.

Get 3rd party firmware like DD-WRT, make connection timeouts short like 180sec and that router will smoke the competition for BT use