DG834G might have broken so im looking for a new router!!!

[Sir. S.A.S]

Hi

I have the following router above and baisicly its decided to give up doing its job!!

So im looking for a new router. The old router i could never host servers on it as its stupid firewall and NAT stoped me.

I dont care what companmy it is as long as its compatible with aol (yes i know were changing soon), must be able to host server like BF2 and be compatible with all netgear products as all my network is netgear!

So im open to all your recommendations for routers?

thanks
matt

P.S. UK sites only plz

[big_sammy_b]

Re: DG834G might have broken so im looking for a new router!!!

Any router you buy needs to have NAT DHCP and a firewall. Those things do not stop you hosting a bf2 server but if you want to do that you need too forward ports.

First of all you need to know which ports the bf2 server uses (don't ask me i haven't set one up) then you need to go to login too the router. To do that you need to know what the routers ip is which you can find out by going too start - run - cmd - return - type 'ipconfig /all'

This will give you your default gateway. Go to your browser and put the ip adress in ie: http://10.0.0.1/ it will ask for a login which as default on a DG834 is admin/admin.

On the left hand side of the router page it has various links for settings. On e is called 'services'. Create a service and call it 'bf2 server' put in the ports in that bit that you need too forward.

Then add that service to the service list. Then go too firewall rules - add service - add the service you just created.

Bear in mind when adding services you need to tell your router the ip adress of the pc you intend to forward these ports too. This is the ip of whatever machine your running the server on to find that run 'ipconfig /all' as i told you earlier that will give you the machines local ip adress.

Don't be worried about security because the ports will only open as required for the server.

As for worrying about brands to be 'compatible' with your network you needn't be. It makes no difference at all. All thats important is the principles of the TCP/IP protocol which all network kit pretty much uses.

As far as AOL goes it shouldn't be a problem with any router but they are a funny isp, my mate had this problem at a customer he rang there support and they taked him through it apprently they have a few funny setting but are happy to talk you through it those guys are usually glad to have somthing half way techie too do for once :)

NAT = Network adress translation (process of sharing a single internet conenction amoungst various computers)

DHCP = Dynamic host controller protocol (process of a server in this case a router giving out ip adresses to machines it detects on a netowrk)

Firewall = Opens and closes ports on your external internet ip adess as required for outgoing traffic. This is too keep you safe from external internet threats. As i said before forewarding ports which allows incoming traffic is fine because the ports only open as required for the software. This isn't 100% safe however SQL servers for instance are filled with vulnerabilities but in that respect your as safe as the server software your running is.