Please note that I am not sure why MS has this router tool under software but they do.
Back in December we decided to Home Network and thought it would be very easy to do. Well, for most people it may be very easy to do. But for us, although it was easy in the end it took a while to get there.
Between trying to upgrade an older computer, which was costing way to much money, to buying a new computer, to adding Ethernet Cards and Ethernet Cables, to having a bad router, which was brand new, to ordering another new Router and receiving two new Routers in the same day because https://dell.com told us the one we had ordered 2nd was on back order, supposedly cancelled that order.
We ordered yet another Router only to have them both shipped at the same time and came in at the same time, to looking at packing slips to get the order number on each Router, for I had written those numbers down. To choosing the Router we actually wanted, which was the first one to start with, to calling Aol® to help us, to trying each Ethernet Cable to ensure they each were working, to calling the maker of the new Router, to finally being hooked up with Home Networking, we are finally doing it right! And everyone is once again happy.
For now anyway, for something will come along that will make us unhappy, as these things usually happen in life, but there will always be something else to come along that will make us happy again!
Today I would like to tell you all about the new Router we wanted and wound up choosing from the back of the Airborne® delivery truck by looking a simple thing called a packing slip. (You should always write numbers down.)
The Product
Linksys® model BEFSX41 Etherfast® Cable/SDL Firewall Router with 4-port switch/VPN Endpoint Instant Broadband® Series, will help us share our High Speed Internet connection with no problems at all. We can access a remote network with security and peace of mind all times now.
NAT and Stateful Packet Inspection Firewall will protect my family and our computers from Internet intruders. Also making it possible now to take down the Firewall with McAfee® that we have, if we want to. Having the Firewall in the router is a right choice I think because it will catch those intruders first. However, we most likely will keep up the McAfee® firewall in case the Router misses something.
The built in switch connects up to four local computers directly-daisy-chain (as Linksys® calls it), out to more hubs and switches as our Home Networking may grow, which will not be more than these two computers.
Hooking it all up
This was very easy to do. You take one Ethernet Cable and run it from one computer, which we will call Computer 1 and one Ethernet Cable and run it from the other computer, which we will call Computer 2 and hook both of these into the back of the Router in either ports 1,2, 3 or 4, making sure that the other end of the cables are hooked into the back of your computers.
Then you take another Ethernet Cable and hook it into the WAN port of the router and into your DSL modem (If you are using DSL) into the port that you once used for your computer DSL connection. The Router is marked accordingly.
Plug the router up and you are set. You will need to change you sign on options on both computers in order to connect to the Internet. You will also need to make sure that in the properties in your Network Connection, which would be the Lan Connection found under your Networking category found in the Control Panel of your computer, are able to choose an IP address automatically. And then you are all set. Aren?t you?
For us, not exactly. This is where AOL® and Linksys® Support came into play. For the life of me, after hooking everything up correctly and checking it twice and even a third time, I still couldn?t get networking to work. After calling AOL® they helped me with the sign on options with both computers. Computer 1 was working well with the Router but Computer 2 was not. Something was wrong. Did the router had to be configured correctly?
After calling Linksys® support, we discovered that we had to change those settings in the Lan connection properties back to where the router could choose an IP address automatically. You see, while trying to work with the very first router that we bought, all of these settings got changed around and we forgot about it. Boy did I ever feel stupid!
Other stuff about the router
This router will support up to 2 virtual private network tunnels (VNP), will protect your computer from Ping of Death, SYN Flood, Land Attack, IP Spoofing and other DoS (denial of Service) Attacks. It will also support URL, Time, Proxy, Java, AtiveX and Cookie filters. It is easily configurable through a Web Browser from any networked computer. Administer and upgrade the router remotely over the Internet and support traffic and an event log. It also will configure as a DHCP Server on the Network and the Administrators can filter specific Internal Users Internet access.
It does support SNMP version 2 as well as NTP (network time protocol) for Synchronization with Real Time Server and also supported for PPPoE Server with a dedication Port for DMZ. Now mind you I don?t understand all of these things but I do understand that this a great router and a perfect choice for us and it works!
The minimum requirements are
All window Operating systems. Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP, NT, and Me, equipped with TCP/IP Protocol, Internet Explorer 4.0 l, Netscape Navigator 4.7 for Web based configuration, CD-Rom drive, Ethernet Adapter with UTP CAT 5 Network Cable and Cable or DSL Modem with Ethernet Connection and Internet Access.
Company Information
Should you have any questions you can go to:
http://www.linksys.com
Their site is very helpful!
How I feel
I admit that we were getting rather tired of trying to Home Network with all the delays we kept having, but thank goodness we stuck it out! But there was another problem that arose. When we would network, the Explorer® Browser as well as the AOL® Browsers would not work correctly. We could get to the homepage of any company but then couldn?t get any further. So, when I went to pay the bills online I had to connect directly to the DSL modem in order to do so. After, several reboots of each computer, the Browsers seem to be working correctly now. We have no idea was going on.
It is very nice being able to Home Network because my husband and I can each be online and talk with one another and play games together. Plus the children can be on computer and my husband and I on the other as needed.
We paid 66.95 at Dell® for our Router plus tax with free shipping and handling.
You will get a registration card, power adapter, Ethernet Network Cable, Setup CD Rom with User Guide and a Fast Start Guide in your unit.
In the end, the delays were worth it all for this family because the joy is just wonderful.
I hope that this has helped in some kind of way.
God Bless!
©LKD 2004
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.
