Using a Broadband Router,
home networks and small office networks can share a cable modem or DSL Internet connection. Also known as Internet
Connection Sharing (ICS) Routers, these routers not only allow multiple computers to connect to the Internet
through one connection, they also provide features such as; firewalls, Statefull Packet Inspection (SPI) and serve
as Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) servers.
1 - Key factors to consider before buying a broadband router:
The router you buy must meet your needs in terms of connection sharing and safeguarding/securing the network; it must also be easy to use and setup. Hence it is imperative to evaluate the performance of these parameters before you buy a router. You may also want to make sure that all the features you want are available. Let's look at some key factors to consider before buying a broadband router.
All major manufacturers make both wired and wireless Ethernet routers. A wired Ethernet broadband router will
typically have a built-in Ethernet switch to allow for expansion. These routers also support NAT (network address translation),
which allows the computers on your network to share a single IP address on the Internet. Wireless broadband routers look
similar to wired broadband routers, except that they have an antenna on top of the set and the lack cables running from the
PCs to the router. Having a wireless network does add to the security concerns; to ease these concerns manufacturers of
wireless broadband routers provide extra levels of embedded security. In addition to the features found in wired routers,
wireless routers also provide features relevant to wireless security such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and wireless MAC
address filtering. When choosing a wireless broadband router, make sure that it supports your wireless network standard.
2.2 - Wireless Protocol's
• IEEE 802.11a:
Specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 5GHz and a range of 100 feet.
Setting up a network having this standard involves high cost.
• IEEE 802.11b:
Specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 11Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz and a range of 150 feet.
The cost of setting up a network having this standard is low.
• IEEE 802.11b + :
Specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 22Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz and a range of 150 Feet.
• IEEE 802.11g:
Specifies a maximum data transfer rate of 54Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz and a range of 150 feet.
This standard is compatible with 802.11b devices
Specifies a maximum transfer rate of 0.5Mbps, an operating frequency of 2.4GHz and a range of 30 feet.
Port Configuration
Entry-level wired broadband routers have four ports for connecting four home computers. However, four port
models would be inadequate for larger networks. Five-port models have an extra "uplink" port which allows you to
expand your network later, and to support a mix of wired and wireless computers. Consider buying eight port routers
if you need additional capacity.
NAT Support
All broadband routers support NAT, or network address translation. NAT allows computers on the network to share a single IP
address on the Internet. If you plan to host many servers through your router and expose them on the internet, you may want
to look into a router with Multi-NAT functionality. Multi-NAT provides the ability to utilize more than one IP address on
the internet for INCOMING communications.
Standard NAT
All broadband routers support NAT, or network address translation. NAT allows computers on the network to share a single IP
address on the Internet. If you plan to host many servers through your router and expose them on the internet, you may want
to look into a router with Multi-NAT functionality. Multi-NAT provides the ability to utilize more than one IP address on
the internet for INCOMING communications.
Multi-NAT
All outbound traffic is carried out on a single IP address. Multi-Nat supports traffic on multiple IP addresses for
incoming communications.
DHCP support
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a protocol that lets one device (which is known as DHCP server) on a local
network assign temporary IP addresses to computers and other devices connected to the network. Most broadband routers have
DHCP servers built in. This allows for automatic IP configuration of your computers.
A firewall protects your computer network from intruders. A router with firewall eliminates the need for installing
separate firewall software on each computer on the network. All NAT based routers act as a 'natural' firewall between the
Internet and your LAN by masking the true IP address of the computers on the LAN. NAT makes it almost impossible for anyone
to directly connect to a computer behind a NAT router using the computer’s IP address. However NAT cannot prevent attacks
like denial of service.
Packet Inspection:
Routers use this feature to achieve its connection sharing task. Part of this inspection process involves blocking unwanted
and un-requested packets trying to reach your LAN computers. This prevents unwanted data/programs from getting into the
network.
Statefull Packet Inspection:
SPI is an advanced feature than the ordinary ‘packet inspection’. A router/firewall with SPI offers more protection than a
router that does not have SPI. A router/firewall with SPI will look at a packet of information, examine it in some way,
and determine what to do with it (beyond simple routing). SPI routers not only understand TCP/IP, they also have an
understanding of the applications that are using this protocol. This understanding allows the router to filter out
advanced forms of attacks on the internet.
Statefull Packet Inspection:
SPI is an advanced feature than the ordinary ‘packet inspection’. A router/firewall with SPI offers more protection than a
router that does not have SPI. A router/firewall with SPI will look at a packet of information, examine it in some way,
and determine what to do with it (beyond simple routing). SPI routers not only understand TCP/IP, they also have an
understanding of the applications that are using this protocol. This understanding allows the router to filter out
advanced forms of attacks on the internet.
Router based print servers are not bi-directional, i.e. they can send print jobs but cannot receive data from the printer.
Most printers available in the market – especially ink jet printers – do not function well without a bi-directional printer
port. Therefore, if you intend to use the router as a print server, make sure that the printer driver supports non
bi-directional printing.
VPN Pass through
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows secure communication between computers or networks over a public network, like the
Internet. Most routers support some kind of VPN pass through. This means that you can make VPN connections through your
network, out of the router to a VPN endpoint such as; another computer or network. The two primary VPN protocols; PPTP
and IPSec are supported by most broadband routers.
Speed
Broadband routers designed for the home/SOHO market can handle a minimum speed of 1.5Mbps of data through the WAN (Internet) port when using NAT. Most cable modems have an upper speed limit of 1.5Mbps; most other broadband technologies are significantly slower. Generally, any broadband router that you purchase will be fast enough to handle your broadband connection.
Warranty and Tech-Support
Check for the warranty and tech-support provided by your manufacturer. Remember the warranty protects you from incurring
additional cost in case your router develops trouble.
Brand
There is a wide array of brands of routers available in the market. These brands vary in their pricing, reputation for
quality manufacturing, warranty terms, technical support, and aesthetic "look and feel." When choosing a product, factor
in the opinions of friends and coworkers who already own the particular brand of broadband router. Beware of the internet
reviews that claim the product to be “the best the money can buy”. More often than not this turns out to be far from the
truth.
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