Which Gateway/Router?

[willemmulder]

Hi,

I need help finding a Gateway/Router for my SOHO.

I was hoping that someone could help convince me that there is a product out there that will work with all my equipment.

I have one WindowsNT4.0 workstation, one iMac(OSX-10.1.5), and an all-in-one printer (HP OfficeJet D135). Also have an old LaserwriterIINT that i'd like to make available for for the iMac at least.

Internet is currently by Dial-up modem but we hope that this area will be cabled soon... or we will look to satellite services. But we would like to share the modem in the meantime.

We intend to use the Gateway/Router to have the PC and iMac talk to one another, to share the printer/scanner/fax and to share the dial-up to the Internet (until we get broadband..)

We also want a hardware firewall integrated.

There's an Intel EtherExpress PRO Adapter in the PC and
There's built-in Ethernet in the iMac.


Will the printer work with the iMac over the Network?
...As a Scanner too? Is there a name for this two-way communication?


Is there any product you would recommend?


many thanks in advance.
VV



Willem Mulder

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zilvester
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willem@zilvester.com
www.zilvester.com
+44 (0)7788 413157

[Greenstead]

Its good to be *****ious. I think you need to convince yourself which router you need by studying the features available from the different models:

For example look at (to name a few suppliers):
Linksys
http://www.linksys.com/
SMC
http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?site=c
D-Link
http://www.dlink.com/products/DigitalHome/CableDsl/index.asp
Netgear
http://www.netgear.com/products/routers/comparisonchart.asp

The features you seem to need should include:
Cable/DSL NAT router with combined:
- 4 port switch
- dial-up backup
- printer server (if your printer is ethernet)

You might find it difficult to find a router with all the features you want.


Scanners usually have to hang off a PC and cannot be networked as such.

[LinkSys101]

Dood,

That a very cool set-up that you have there, but actually with regards to your printer; you need a printserver for that; "But" i doubt that it would work with your multi-function printer. what im trying to say is printservers is used only for printing purposes like printing. but when in terms of a scanner and everything it wont work.

but im sure a printserver would work on your NT and your iMAC.
if you would ask me about the product, i would recommend a LinkSys router BEFSR41 and a Linksys printserver EFSP42.

just tell me if you need help in configuring that.