[plug] ADSL modem/switch

[Ben New]

I use the Netgear DG814 and find it does everything I need, including 
NAT, port forwarding and DHCP.  I got it for $275 but I think it's come 
down by now because I saw the same thing with wireless instead of 
ethernet was only $299, and that was at harvey's which are never the 
cheapest.

Personally I wouldn't bother with the custom setup unless there is some 
reason you need to do something the off-the-shelf boxes don't do.  You 
could use the 166 as a proxy and/or firewall or something instead.

Ben




Sham Chukoury wrote:

>Hello PLUGgers. :)
>
>I'm currently considering moving to ADSL (no, dialup just doesn't cut it
>anymore :P ). I've already decided to go with Arachnet's 'Alpha' plan,
>but I'm having a bit of trouble with the hardware side of things...
>
>See, I've got a home network (Linux box + WinXP box) and I'd like them
>both to be able to access the net at the same time, preferrably without
>necessitating one of them to be switched on for the other to be online.
>I realise I need 2 things: an adsl modem and an ethernet switch. I've
>had a look around and found at least 3 adsl modem/switch combo devices
>that seem to fit what I'm looking for.
>
>However, poking around on everythinglinux.com.au I found the Pulsar PCI
>adsl modem. (http://www.everythinglinux.com.au/item/pulsarpci) (If I'm
>not mistaken, the Linux driver for the device is maintained by Guy Ellis
>- http://www.cantech.net.au/plug/2002-12/msg00085.html) Traverse
>Technologies' docs on the device
>(http://www.traverse.com.au/products/default.asp?p=8) seem quite
>impressive - low power consumption, low CPU overhead, support for PPPoE
>*and* PPPoA... I've got my old P166 system[1] still sitting idly around
>here, so I thought maybe I could get the Pulsar modem and shove in 2
>other NICs (anyone got any spare/unneeded 10/100 MBps PCI ethernet cards
>lying around? ;) ) and turn it into a custom adsl gateway/switch box
>kind of thing. However, there are a few problems about doing it this
>way... I haven't been able to find a reseller for the Pulsar modem in
>Perth. Traverse lists WA Data (company related to Arachnet) as the only
>WA reseller. However, while paying a visit to the WA Data/Arachnet
>offices, I was told they're not willing to order just one of the devices
>since they don't want to support a single user with the device (much
>better off supporting a larger user base with the device). I'm wondering
>if any PLUGgers know of some other local reseller? If there are no local
>resellers, then I can always order it from everythinglinux, but I'm
>worried that the package might arrive at some time when no one is around
>to take the delivery. (According to your experience(s)), is it possible
>to ask everythinglinux to deliver the package on a specific day (or
>time)? Anyone know of alternate solutions to this delivery problem? :P
>
>Does anyone have any recommendations or tips on the subject of building
>the custom gateway/switch box? :)
>
>By the way, the 3 modem/switches i found are:
>
>- Netgear DG814 (available from Harris Technologies, Tang Computers,
>AFAICT, more expensive than the other 2, and most expensive solution
>overall)
>- D-Link DSL-504 (available from PLE @ $249)
>- Billion BIPAC 741 (recommended by Arachnet - they sell it)
>
>Related questions:
>- Any objections to doing it the custom way?
>- Anyone know of some way of estimating the power usage of such a custom
>setup?
>- Any comments on the 3 modem/switch devices I mentioned above?
>- <insert a question or issue I didn't think of, here> ;)
>
>
>[1] The current specs for the 166 box are:
>- Pentium 166 CPU
>- Asus VX97 motherbard (docs at
>http://www.motherboards.org/files/manuals/1/vx97-102.pdf)
>- 48 MB EDO RAM
>- Got a spare 2GB IDE hdd that I can plug in
>- working floppy drive, broken (dead?) CD drive
>- 3 PCI slots, 3 ISA slots, 1 PCI/ISA shared slot
>- will run Linux, of course ;)
>
>Cheers
>§:)
>
>
>  
>

-- 
Ben New
ben at leftclick.com.au
0407 089 890

Leftclick Software Development
http://www.leftclick.com.au/
08 9433 5380