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Low Cost Routers with 100Mbps WAN Ports?

Posted by Cliff on from the who-uses-10Mbps-anymore? dept.

Ed asks: "I am getting ready to move into a dorm at Kent State, and they have a 100Mbps port in the room. They allow routers, and switches to connect more than 1 PC, however every router I see at the consumer level has a 10Mbps WAN port. I would really prefer not to waste having a 100BaseTX port on a 10Mbps router. Does anyone make a semi-low cost router with a 100Mbps WAN port?"

7 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. It won't make any difference by foobar104 · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you can demonstrate that your bandwidth to the Internet is greater than about 800 KB/s, I will personally give you a cookie.

    Don't waste your money on an expensive router with a 100 Mbps uplink port unless you can take advantage of it somehow.

    1. Re:It won't make any difference by baka_boy · · Score: 3, Informative

      My school had a similar setup -- fast Ethernet in the dorms, somthing like three T3 connections to the net, Alpha web and file servers, and no firewall blocking connections to student machines. This meant that everyone with a hard drive bigger than 1 gig was running their own Napster/warez/whatever server, and downloading everything they could get their hands on. Even with only 1200 students, the effective bandwidth was slightly worse than I get at home with a 128Kbps DSL line.

      I second the recommendation, but if the money is burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on an 802.11 access point, not the fast Ethernet router. If you ever use a laptop or PDA, you'll thank yourself later.

  2. Router? by Gruturo · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sure you really need a router?

    Maybe you need a switch.... a hub.... you've got 3 PCs and a single Ethernet port.

    Or, maybe, you really want a router. This means creating a subnet and putting a static into THEIR router to allow replies to get back to you. Unlikely, but possible (lots of admin overhead for the dorm's net admin, but anyways). In that case, what about a Linux/xBSD with 2 or more Fast Ethernets? That's gonna cost you MUCH less than anything Cisco sells (and not only Cisco)

    --

    Vacuum cleaners suck. Kings rule.
  3. Re:Use a PC? by mjpaci · · Score: 3, Informative

    You can use an old PC with no hd and two 10/100NICs. Linux Router Project should fit the bill.

    --Mike

  4. On the off chance you would actually need it by booyah · · Score: 3, Informative

    You can always pick up someones older PC like a Celeron 300-500 and make a Linux NAT (Network Address Translation) box out off it. Most of the consumer level dsl/cable "routers" are just simple NAT boxes done in hardware.

    look around a simple nat box is easy and cheap to setup and you can decide the speed. I get 50mbs across a p200 NAT box at my work (for test environment)

    --
    #include sig.h
  5. Suggestions by maggard · · Score: 3, Informative
    1. "Take an old PC and...": Folks in dorm-rooms don't need an additionial clunker PC taking up room, pumping out heat, adding to the din, etc. While lots of geeks may appreciate living in the equivalent of a hardware cave most dorm rooms I've ever seen barely qualify as a decent closet much less a hardware bay.

    2. Yes there are good low-cost 10/100 routers out there. I use a SMC Barricade 7004ABR which offers 4 10/100 LAN ports as well as a simple firewall, print-server, backup modem connection, etc. Some folks have trouble configuring it with a browser other then WinIE, if so just make friends with a Wintel laptop owner down the hall.

    3. Watch for deals. I got my router for $50 after refund (check took a month to arrive, not bad.) Another buddy just bought his for $50 direct. My favorite source for good prices is dealnews networking. They've got a couple of good sub-US$100 listings right now.

    --
    I don't read ACs: If a post isn't worth so much as a nom de plume to its author then I wont bother either.
  6. Re:Build it yourself: BBIAgent 40 dollars by t0qer · · Score: 3, Informative

    I see all these posts on build it yourself, none of the suggestions seem all that easy...

    You can get a first generation pentium now of any speed with ram the whole 9 yards for FREE. If you live in San Jose, I would be more than happy to let you have your choice from 10 boxes I got in the garage ranging from 486 to a P120. You come pick it up its that simple.

    Next you need to add some network cards, the bay network netgears do the job nice and at $20 bucks a pop at fry's it wont hurt your pocketbook.

    Finally some software to run it. I recomend BBIAgent It's small, runs on a floppy, and should do everything you need it to. Very slick web based setup and java based config utility.

    As far as a hub/switch/cat5 cable, well that will still cost you money. I have a tangle of blue wire in the garage that looks like animal from the muppets if he were blue, you'd be more than welcome to help yourself.

    Good Luck!
    --Toq