Firewall program or a hardware firewall client?

Software firewall for vista
or a full blown hardware firewall client, for protecting the whole network.


A hardware firewall client basic task is to regulate some of the flow of traffic between computer networks of different trust levels. Typical examples are the Internet which is a zone with no trust and an internal computer network which is a zone of higher trust. A hardware firewall clients function within a network is similar to firewalls with fire doors in building construction. It is used to prevent network intrusion to the private network.

If u only need a few computers protected, it is worth considering a software firewall program for each individual computer in the network. There are several good solutions as a firewall for vista, or other systems. U can also get a free firewall for vista that will do the job, however not with the same features as a commercial one.
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TRENDnet 300 Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router TEW-639GR (Black)
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Listprice:
$103.00

Price:
$60.49
You Save: $42.51
Description:
The 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router offers unsurpassed wireless speed, coverage and reliability. Enjoy up to 14x the speed and 6x the coverage of a wireless g connection*. Gigabit Wide Area Network and Local Area Network ports transfer your data fast. Wi-Fi certification ensures optimal wireless throughput signal strength and compatibility. Advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna technology eliminates wireless dead spots. Wireless encryption and a manual on/off wireless switch keep your data safe. Wireless Protected Setup (WPS) integrates other WPS supported wireless adapters at the touch of a button. Seamlessly stream HD media, download files, surf and play games at wireless n Gigabit speed..

Reviews:
Excellent choice for Router Upgrade. Met all of my objectives.This replaces my 6 yr old Wi-G DLink. My objectives for this upgrade were the following:
1. Ease of use & cost effective: Upgrade with quick n easy install, without spending a lot

2. Realiability: I wanted to have something that I can install, configure ONCE & then simply NOT have to fiddle with it again. No recycles/reboots/resets for months at least.

3. Performance: Ability to handle parallel streaming to multiple devices with min. loss of speed. Handle all sorts of media streaming from my DLNA server to Netflix & Vudu HDX streaming (1080p) without hiccups. Plus, wifi signal & speed remain consistent in all rooms, basement, back & front lawns, garage etc. Support at lease 1 GB/s on Wire & 300 Mbps on Wifi so that all of my electronic purchases for home network for next 6 years will take full advantage of these speeds, even if partially helpful today (like improved backup time to my network NAS drive, improved DLNA buffering speed for in home video streaming from my DLNA enabled NAS).

4. Security: Standard ability to setup WPA2 with MAC filtering.

All of the above objectives were met with my new TEW-639. The only surprise was the MAC filtering section of the admin UI interface is much worse than my 6 yr old D Link. as if a 1st year college student put together a quick & dirty web page. The support person was extremely helpful in walking me through using that interface & said that this is due to the underlying chip-set (odd - since when does hardware chip dictate the UI interface - wrong answer but who cares - it is what it is). I was glad that I have to do this once & at least we can use the current connected WiFi Station list to copy/paste the MAC addresses instead of manually keying in (I was prepared for that in advace - I had taken screen-shots from my D-Link). In the end the only draw-back is that when looking at MAC filter settings, I can't make out which MAC is for which device (On D-Link I was able to associate labels). The support guy mentioned that the fancy interface is available on TEW 432 & 452 & not on others.

He gave me a useful link, which I think anyone interested in buying a trendnet router can use in advance to checkout how the router admin works so they don't have any surprises. (...)
Overall very happy with this product. I had ordered Apple's Airport Extreme (...) in-between but the admin utility will not run on my desktop (Win XP & Win 7) and had to return it. Then I was waiting for the new TEW-673 to be available in Feb, but then could not justify that on cost/benefit(...) & Trendnet seems to have delayed the rollout of that device - maybe some last minute glitches.

This router has turned out to work perfectly and has now met ALL of my above objectives.
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NETGEAR FVS318 ProSafe VPN Firewall 8 with 8-Port 10/100 Switch
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Listprice:
$116.99

Price:
Too low to display
Description:
Want the utmost in network security for your office? NETGEAR's FVS318 ProSafe VPN Firewall provides business-class protection at a NAT router price. This completely equipped, broadband-capable Virtual Private Network (VPN) firewall is a true firewall and provides it all - Denial of Service (DoS) protection and Intrusion Detection using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), URL access and content filtering, logging, reporting, and real-time alerts. It initiates up to 8 IPSec VPN tunnels simultaneously, reducing your operating costs and maximizing the security of your network. With 8 auto-sensing, Auto Uplink switched LAN ports and Network Address Translation (NAT) routing, up to 253 users can access your broadband connection at the same time..

Reviews:
Stable and feature rich router at a good priceI am the sole IT person for a company that has several branch offices and they are all equipped with one of these routers. They are updated to the latest firmware which may play a key role in my success with these routers, but so far I couldn't be happier. Not one has had a problem that couldn't be resolved with a power cycle. I am not doing anything too complex with these as their DHCP/DNS functions are being handled by a windows server and there is no need for VPN yet, but the expandability is good to have. Port forwarding is in use and working fine and the internet access policy, although not the most robust I've seen, it does the job. Internet access is quick and the setup is relatively easy. I am A+,NET+, and CCNA certified, however I don't think the setup requires a professional touch as the web access GUI is pretty intuitive. Lastly the body is good at keeping the unit cool, is easy to mount, and has a pretty small footprint. To combine all of this with a price tag that any power user or SOHO can afford makes it 5 stars to me.
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Netgear FVS318G PROSAFE® 8-PORT GIGABIT VPN FIREWALL
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Listprice:
$194.19

Price:
$129.99
You Save: $64.20
Description:
The NETGEAR ProSafe 8-port Gigabit VPN Firewall provides both secure IPsec site-to-site tunnels and IPsec secure access for remote clients. Employing a true firewall with customizable firewall rules, this VPN router is a high-performance, SNMP-manageable, network solution that furnishes multidimensional security including denial-of-service (DoS) protection, stateful packet inspection (SPI), URL keyword filtering, logging, reporting, and real-time alerts. Eight Gigabit LAN ports keep your data moving at top speed. With Network Address Translation (NAT) routing and classical routing, all the users in your small office can access your broadband connection at the same time..

Reviews:
Not my cup of TeaI ordered this router to be both firewall/switch and connected wireless router behind it. I found that it didn't play well with others and locked up both LAN and WAN on an intermittent basis. I then switched units and had the Wireless router in front and placed this unit behind as just a switch and again the network would Lock up, although just on the LAN side. I went through the original unit and a replacement unit with the same results each time. The unit maybe perfect for someone that doesn't require a the same configuration as I did. However, it wasn't my cup of tea and most likely was due to my lack of investigation prior to purchase.
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NETGEAR RP614 Web Safe Router with 4-Port 10/100 Mbps Switch
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Listprice:
$54.99

Price:
$30.00
You Save: $24.99
Description:
Netgear Router W/ 4Port Switch.

Reviews:
BUYER BEWARE!I purchased this router 7 months ago. After 6 months with no problems, the unit suddenly stopped working. A call to Netgear produced unsatisfactory results. Technical Support will NOT talk to you unless you pay a premium. With only six months elapsed on a 3 year warranty (I notice that now Netgear only offers a 2 year warranty - interesting) I was not happy. I did not want to spend any more money so I tried the online support. After back and forth for a week, Netgear finally issued an RMA number so I could ship the defective unit back (at my expense). The only acceptable service in this whole mess was the turnaround time. I mailed it (priority) on Jan 8th and received the replacement Jan 15th. The router worked 1 whole day and died Jan 16th. 'As a courtesy' customer service decided to talk to me after verifying that I had just received the new (defective) router. That phone call turned into 3 as I was cut off twice and had to keep calling back (too bad they couldn't call me back since they have my phone number-that would have been much better customer service). Each time I had to repeat my story (always write down your Case ID # so they can find you) so I ended up speaking with 3 different technicians who each had me do something different (which is my complaint with the online support - different people, something else to try [all of which I had done prior to calling]). The last technician referred me to a supervisor who assured me another replacement would be sent out promptly. She said I could throw the bad unit away. 15 minutes later she called back asking for my credit card information to 'authenticate' me. I refused stating that she had confirmed all my info prior to hanging up. She refused to let me speak to someone with more authority, telling me my repalcement couldn't be processed without a credit card, although she assured me I would not be charged for a new unit or shipping. So why do they need my credit card? Customer service has not called me but I did get an email from them issuing another RMA. I am furious as I will NOT ship their defective product back to them (particularly since the supervisor told me I did not have to and could toss it) nor will I give them a credit card (which I am guessing goes to people in a foreign country based on their hard to understand accents). Netgear has lost another customer, my computer is unprotected at the moment but before I unplug my ethernet cable, I will file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
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Linksys by Cisco EG008W  Gigabit 8-Port Workgroup Switch
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Listprice:
$89.99

Price:
$64.99
You Save: $25.00
Description:
Wire-speed switching and Linksys reliability in an 8-port Gigabit desktop switch The Gigabit 8-Port Workgroup Switch provides non-blocking, wire speed switching for your 10, 100, and 1000 megabit network clients. Drop this switch in place of your current workgroup hub or switch, and you can upgrade your high-requirement workstations to full Gigabit speeds as necessary, while continuing to service other clients at their current speeds. Or build your network from the ground up, with appropriate link speeds for each users requirements. Apply this switching power to your current hub-based Ethernet network, and your data traffic efficiency will improve several times over. Connect your Gigabit-equipped workstations to the Switchs 10/100/1000 ports for full-duplex, dedicated bandwidth of up to 2000Mbps Its perfect for graphics, multimedia, and other applications that have to move large files across the network quickly..

Reviews:
New VersionI just bought at a local shop, paid $15 more. Setup was simple without one problem. Was actually surprised that networking the printer thru this switch was flawless. Product is quiet. Just make sure you unplug router and modem first. When repluging make sure you plug in as the flow of the signal. Runs quite and cool.
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Linksys by Cisco BEFVP41 EtherFast Cable/DSL VPN Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch
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Listprice:
$120.99

Price:
$99.99
You Save: $21.00
Description:
The Instant Broadband EtherFast Cable/DSL VPN Router from Linksys is the ideal solution for remotely accessing a network securely over the Internet using cutting edge encryption and authentication methods.Built from the popular standard Linksys 4Port Router Model BEFSR41, the VPN Router expands its functionality and security features by utilizing 56bit DES and 168bit 3DES encryption, and Internet Key Exchange (IKE). A built-in IPSec coprocessor from Hifn allows for complete data privacy for the access and exchange of your most sensitive data from your home to your corporate network or between remote branch offices without the additional cost of IPSec VPN client software for each computer. Mobile workers can also connect to a corporate network using an IPSec based VPN client software solution..

Reviews:
Best of Linksys VPN RoutersLinksys has recently built a well deserved reputation for cutting corners and building inferior routers. Often features do not work as advertised or at all. That has been particularly true with Linksys VPN routers.

This router is the only Linksys VPN router I've found that lives up to its billing. I have a number of them installed at client locations to create site to site VPNs and they just work. Setup of the router is easy, as is setup of the site to site VPN.

If you need to connect two separate physical locations, this is the right router for the job.
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TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G Broadband Router TEW-432BRP (Blue)
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Listprice:
$49.99

Price:
$18.00
You Save: $31.99
Description:
The 54Mbps Wireless G Router offers a complete wireless solution that allows you to share files, an Internet connection, or network resource while protecting your network using enhanced security features. Simply plug your workstations and your broadband modem into the Wireless G router, and configure your broadband connection using its built-in Web Interface. Use the Virtual Server feature to configure any workstation as a Web Server or FTP server easily, allowing users to view files from the Internet. You can also protect your Wireless LAN using 64/128-bit WEP encryption or industry standard WPA-PSK with TKIP or AES algorithms. Increase security by enabling MAC, IP, or Protocol Filtering as well as setting Firewall Rules to limit Internet Access or block malicious intruders from accessing your network..

Reviews:
fedora linux readylow price and linux compatibility were my prerequisites for a router. as a retired computer system manager, i was hesitant to introduce another point of failure. but there was really little to do other than hook it up and go to the url and go through menu. all without involvement with att (ptl). my network consists of a 32 bit computer and a 64 bit computer, both running fedora 11. speed? i can watch justin.tv on wireless.
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Cisco RV042 4-port 10/100 VPN Router - Dual WAN
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Listprice:
$199.99

Price:
Too low to display
Description:
The Cisco RV042 Dual WAN VPN Router, formerly part of the Linksys Business Series, is designed and built for small businesses. It provides connection sharing and secure remote access at the heart of your network to allow your employees to access the resources they need to be productive. The second WAN port can be used for backup or to connect to a second provider to increase bandwidth. Strong security features include VPN, a proven firewall, and an optional security service that helps fight spam, viruses, and other threats. The built-in switch can connect devices in the office or additional switches..

Reviews:
Best Internet Router under $1000.00Great Router.

Tech Support is AWSOME!

Built in RIP 1/2, Port Forwarding, Port Translation, NAT, Policy Based Firewall, VPN's, PPTP, And Much More...

Put this unit between your system and the internet and you won't be dissapointed.

Reliability is GREAT...Have several at differnet locations and work flawless for years!
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Linksys by Cisco EZXS16W EtherFast 10/100 16-Port Workgroup Switch
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Listprice:
$79.99

Price:
$62.00
You Save: $17.99
Description:
Migrate your network to Fast Ethernet 100Mbps speed with the EtherFast10/100 Workgroup Switches. These new compact switches from Linksys offer a new compact design that perfect for space-sensitive applications. Apply this switching power to your 10BaseT network, and your data traffic efficiency improves several times over. Connect your file server to the Switchs auto-sensing ports, and speed up access time for all your users in just one move. And when youre ready, switch your way to full duplex speeds of up to 200Mbpshe speed is yours. And that not all Every Switch includes a complete suite of advanced data error detection and correction features for surefire communication every time. Auto partitioning, data-collision control, signal regeneration, and incoming frame retiming ensure that not a single bit of data is lost, even during heavy network traffic..

Reviews:
Great productMy Linksys 16 port switch worked great out of the box. I was previously using a Linksys 8 DSL router which was very good but unnecessary for my setup, as my DSL provider supplied an Actiontek box. The new 16 port works flawlessly and is a 'hands free' operation plug and play situation.
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Linksys by Cisco BEFSX41 EtherFast Cable/DSL Firewall Router (4-Port 10/100 Switch / VPN Endpoint)
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Listprice:
$79.99

Price:
Too low to display
Description:
The Linksys Instant Broadband EtherFastCable/DSL Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch/VPN Endpoint is the perfect solution for connecting a small group of PCs to a high-speed broadband Internet connection or a 10/100 Ethernet backbone. The Router can be configured to limit internal users Internet access based on URLs and/or time periodsURL filtering and time filtering. For enhanced protection against intruders from the Internet, the Router features an advanced Stateful Packet Inspection firewall.Use the Cable/DSL Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch/VPN Endpoint to create IPSec VPN tunnels, so you can securely connect to the corporate server from your home officeor any location when youre on the road. The Router provides a dedicated port for DMZ hosting and acts as the only externally recognized Internet gateway on your local area network (LAN). With the performance and security features of the Cable/DSL Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch/VPN Endpoint, your network will take advantage of the Internet while keeping its data secure..

Reviews:
Low Throughput for BroadbandThe Linksys BEFSX41 is a fine router, but its maximum throughput measures only 19 Mbps and with the SPI engaged it drops to 14.01 Mbps which is just too slow for a modern high speed broadband connection.

[...]

~Maxx~
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