Configurability whats the Differents

I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
features. Support and product life expectancy."

jeff
Tue Aug 03 13:54:53 CDT 2004

On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 11:13:09 -0700, "Mike"
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
>small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
>diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
>for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
>for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
>know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
>more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
>features. Support and product life expectancy."

Cisco's cost more because they're Cisco, but you're looking at two
radically different routers if there's a $5,000 difference. Besides,
a *router* doesn't protect you, what you really want is a *firewall*,
which may or may not be a part of some routers.

Let's start by you telling us how many systems in your network and how
you connect to the internet. Then we can recommend a series for you
to look at.

Jeff

Lanwench
Tue Aug 03 13:19:40 CDT 2004

You have at least one reply to an identical post elsewhere - Please don't
multipost - if you need to post to multiple groups, it's best to crosspost
instead, by posting a single message to a handful of relevant groups
(separate the NG names with commas) so that everyone can follow the thread.
Thanks :-)

See http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

The answer was, it depends what you need and what your budget is. You
haven't provided enough info about what you want or need for anyone to give
you a recommendation. There are lots of differences between a $50 Linksys
and a $4k Pix - just like there are differences between a Neon and a
Bentley.


Mike wrote:
> I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
> small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
> diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
> for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
> for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
> know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
> more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
> features. Support and product life expectancy."

Phillip
Tue Aug 03 14:08:43 CDT 2004

The "cheapies" are not *real* routers. They are just NAT boxes that are
similar to the same functionality as the hardware firewalls costing more.
I'm always complaining about how the SOHO market has butchered the
dictionary. What they should be called is a SOHO NAT Firewall.

The difference,...well you pretty much answered your own question. One is a
golf cart, the other is a semi-truck. However the expensive ones typically
only have ethernet ports and do not have the built in DSL/Cable modems that
the SOHO devices have because they are often used with commercial phone
lines like T1's and such. Expensive ones are used in conjuction with a
*real* Router and CSU/DSU combination. The cheaper SOHO devices are
designed to work with TV Cable and DSL and often have builtin modems for
those types of links. The SOHO devices often also have a built in Switch
with about 4 ports.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

"Mike" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:b98101c47985$8820aab0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
> small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
> diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
> for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
> for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
> know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
> more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
> features. Support and product life expectancy."

Lil'
Tue Aug 03 17:41:12 CDT 2004

Beg your description as accurate for all. Maybe for the current market.
Have Surfboad model 3100 router, one of the originals that came to retail
market. The "cheap" description is accurate, but by no means cheap compared
to current SOHO routers. But is much cheaper than current or past
commercial routers.

Has no other connections than one CAT5 in and one CAT5 out network
connection. No built-in hub. No TV cable or otherwise connections.

Is it by any means a router or switch, no. NAT firewall is most accurate.
"Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote in message
news:%23ZODN1YeEHA.384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> The "cheapies" are not *real* routers. They are just NAT boxes that are
> similar to the same functionality as the hardware firewalls costing more.
> I'm always complaining about how the SOHO market has butchered the
> dictionary. What they should be called is a SOHO NAT Firewall.
>
> The difference,...well you pretty much answered your own question. One is
a
> golf cart, the other is a semi-truck. However the expensive ones
typically
> only have ethernet ports and do not have the built in DSL/Cable modems
that
> the SOHO devices have because they are often used with commercial phone
> lines like T1's and such. Expensive ones are used in conjuction with a
> *real* Router and CSU/DSU combination. The cheaper SOHO devices are
> designed to work with TV Cable and DSL and often have builtin modems for
> those types of links. The SOHO devices often also have a built in Switch
> with about 4 ports.
>
> --
>
> Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
> www.wandtv.com
>
> "Mike" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:b98101c47985$8820aab0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> > I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
> > small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
> > diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
> > for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
> > for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
> > know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
> > more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
> > features. Support and product life expectancy."
>
>

N
Tue Aug 03 18:15:41 CDT 2004

In article <b98101c47985$8820aab0$a401280a@phx.gbl>, Mike says...

> I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
> small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
> diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
> for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
> for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
> know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
> more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
> features. Support and product life expectancy."

Actually, the Cisco site has a nice comparison feature, and even a selection
for 'novice', or 'expert' user. Along the right-hand side of the page, the
"Product Adviser"...

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/index.html

I suspect you need to explain what you are trying to accomplish; how many
computers, will any users be connecting from off site; that sort of thing.
You might get a clue about some features and questions from people here,
and, possibly, at BroadBandReports: http://www.broadbandreports.com.

--
Norman
~Win dain a lotica, En vai tu ri, Si lo ta
~Fin dein a loluca, En dragu a sei lain
~Vi fa-ru les shutai am, En riga-lint

Mike
Tue Aug 03 21:10:49 CDT 2004

No, this is the fist time I asked a Q. you maybe "are"
thinging of someome else. Apology taken, know big deal.
>-----Original Message-----
>You have at least one reply to an identical post
elsewhere - Please don't
>multipost - if you need to post to multiple groups, it's
best to crosspost
>instead, by posting a single message to a handful of
relevant groups
>(separate the NG names with commas) so that everyone can
follow the thread.
>Thanks :-)
>
>See http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>The answer was, it depends what you need and what your
budget is. You
>haven't provided enough info about what you want or need
for anyone to give
>you a recommendation. There are lots of differences
between a $50 Linksys
>and a $4k Pix - just like there are differences between a
Neon and a
>Bentley.
>
>
>Mike wrote:
>> I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
>> small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
>> diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
>> for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
>> for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos
someone
>> know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
>> more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
>> features. Support and product life expectancy."
>
>
>.
>

Tejas
Tue Aug 03 22:16:05 CDT 2004

Selection of the router depends on your needs. You have to consider the
following:-

1) How many users
2) What kind of Internet Connection you have got
3) Do you have any existing hardware like hubs and switches
4) What is your budget
5) What kind of Network Infrastructure do you want, that is would you be
having VPN's, secure site connection etc etc.

I would not buy a Cisco router if it is a office with 5-10 people in it and
does not need VPN connections all the time.

Now mostly all routers come with a inbuilt firewall, make sure the one that
you buy has one. It should be Statefull Packet Inspection firewall. Make
sure it supports DHCP and NAT functionality and other common security and
network requirements.

I hope this helps in making the right decision.
Tejas Patel
"Mike" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:b98101c47985$8820aab0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
> small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
> diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
> for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
> for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
> know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
> more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
> features. Support and product life expectancy."

Lanwench
Wed Aug 04 09:47:51 CDT 2004

Mike wrote:
> No, this is the fist time I asked a Q. you maybe "are"
> thinging of someome else. Apology taken, know big deal.

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22%245000+Cisco+firewall%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&selm=abfe01c47965%24f55babe0%24a401280a%40phx.gbl&rnum=2

In microsoft.public.windowsxp.security.admin, August 3. :-)


>> -----Original Message-----
>> You have at least one reply to an identical post
> elsewhere - Please don't
>> multipost - if you need to post to multiple groups, it's best to
>> crosspost instead, by posting a single message to a handful of
>> relevant groups (separate the NG names with commas) so that everyone
>> can follow the thread. Thanks :-)
>>
>> See http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>
>> The answer was, it depends what you need and what your budget is. You
>> haven't provided enough info about what you want or need for anyone
>> to give you a recommendation. There are lots of differences between
>> a $50 Linksys and a $4k Pix - just like there are differences
>> between a Neon and a Bentley.
>>
>>
>> Mike wrote:
>>> I am buying a router for the first time to protect my
>>> small office "Med" , and I see that there is a big price
>>> diff., and all I can find out them is a $50 NAT is
>>> for "Comsumer Use" and the $5000 Cisco firewall are
>>> for "Business". I can not find the tech diff. Dos someone
>>> know the diff. in the two. (Why dos one cost SOME much
>>> more)"Configurability, flexibilty, expandability and
>>> features. Support and product life expectancy."
>>
>>
>> .

Phillip
Wed Aug 04 13:57:47 CDT 2004

"Lil' Dave" <spamyourself@virus.net> wrote in message
news:ulj1$raeEHA.2804@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Beg your description as accurate for all.
>
> Has no other connections than one CAT5 in and one CAT5 out network
> connection. No built-in hub. No TV cable or otherwise connections.

That's why I consistantly used the word "typically" in my post.

My second gripe is along these very lines in that the SOHO manufactures
don't build them consistantly. Some build many "devices" into a single box
and other don't,...sometimes you can't tell what you are buying untill after
you buy it because they keep "blurring" the boundaries between different
types of equipment to go along with their "blurring" of terminology.

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com