[plug] ADSL: Hardware Gateways vs Linux

[Trevor Phillips]

I'm preparing to take the ADSL plunge (FINALLY), and have started looking at 
what ADSL Modems and variants thereof are available. In particular, since 
I'll probably sign up with Westnet, I've been looking at what hardware they 
offer:
   http://www.westnet.com.au/products/broadband/adsl/hardware.shtm

First up - how do these ADSL Hardware routers compare to a Linux Box for 
firewall & NAT support? I'm guessing that Linux has the advantage of being 
fully customisable, upgradeable, & patchable, but how much advantage (if any) 
is that compared to a dedicated hardware solution? I could go with a simple 
ADSL Modem, whack a second net card in the Linux server (current dial-up 
server - really needs some maintenance done on config tho), or I could go 
with one of the ones with 4-port, and demote my Linux server to a file/web 
server.

The other consideration is whether to take the opportunity to take the plunge 
into Wireless, and get an ADSL Modem which also doubles as a Wireless Access 
Point. The main concern is if the range will stretch from the study at one 
end of the house, through multiple walls to the other end of the house. How's 
the range on these sort of SOHO products?

Lastly - what are the Netcomm's like which Westnet offer? (See above link). 
The PDF brochures all read rather well, but then, not having networking as a 
specialty field, a lot of the acronyms go over my head. ^_^ (Although the 
spec sheet for the Netcomm 5580W wireless one reads a lot like a Linux 
feature-set. Anyone know if it's really an embedded linux device?)

Any other gotcha's or advice on hardware and configuration?

-- 
. Trevor Phillips             -           http://jurai.murdoch.edu.au/ . 
: Web Technical Administrator     -          T.Phillips at murdoch.edu.au : 
| IT Services                        -              Murdoch University | 
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