Andrew Errington wrote: > On Wed, 29 Nov 2006 11:18, you wrote: > >> What is the best (Broadband?) option at the moment if you have two >> computers one a Windows and the other a Linux and you want to connect >> both to the Internet? >> > > I have an SMC router. It has one ethernet port at the back which connects > to my cable modem, and four 10/100 ports at the front into which you can > plug 4 PCs (Windows, Linux etc.). It also has a print server, which is > connected to my printer (compatible with Unix, but requires a tiny print > redirector utility for Windows). In addition it has a serial port to > connect to a telephone modem- if the broadband link goes down it can be > configured to dial the modem and connect to the internet that way. > Actually, without broadband you can use this feature to provide > dial-on-demand from any of the connected PCs. > > It's a fab piece of equipment and cost less than $100. >
This sounds like the closest yet to what I am looking for. What model number? Where did you get it from? Also, if you know whether it is still available, where from and how much. If you don't know these things, I will do a hunt around for the specific model. Background: I am looking for the following wireless router type thingie: * Wifi * 1 or more Ethernet LAN ports * built in telephone modem, or serial port for external telephone modem, or USB port for USB-serial adapter with an external telephone modem * parallel or USB port for printer * 1 port for ADSL/cable modem (future) * USB port for external HDD (future) * Access point * Router * Firewall * WPA and other appropriate security features * Modem dialling * Print server * File server * Low power consumption (always on) * Up to NZ$150 The idea is I can use my laptop anywhere in the house either untethered, or with a single power connection. At the moment, I have a USB thingy with a parallel printer port, a serial port and two USB ports, connected to printer, modem, mouse and potentially external HDD. So there are only two connections (USB and power), but as soon as I move away from the study, I lose all connection with the outside world. The Apple Airport Extreme is the closest that I have found :built-in modem, but no file server and costs $350 Digitus DN-7011 has no telephone modem capability, but does have both parallel and USB printer ports. $140 Dlink DI-524UP has USB print server, but no serial or telephone modem. $150 Linksys WRT54GL has no print server, serial or telephone modem. But it has open source firmware FWIW NetGear FWG114P has a USB print server, but no serial port or telephone modem and it costs $240 Surecom EP-9611SX-GU has USB print server, no serial or telephone modem, and only WEP encryption. $110 USR 805461 has print server but no serial or telephone modem, and it costs $250 So far, I have not found any that include file sharing and external HDD. And none (except Airport Extreme) with support for telephone modem. There was a project hacking the Linksys NSLU2 'slug' and related network-attached storage devices. However, they seem to have only ethernet and USB ports. I am open to any other suggestions, though I doubt whether a PC-based solution will meet the low-power, always on constraint. Stephen ======================================================================= This email, including any attachments, is only for the intended addressee. It is subject to copyright, is confidential and may be the subject of legal or other privilege, none of which is waived or lost by reason of this transmission. If the receiver is not the intended addressee, please accept our apologies, notify us by return, delete all copies and perform no other act on the email. Unfortunately, we cannot warrant that the email has not been altered or corrupted during transmission. =======================================================================
