On Thu 17 Jul 2008 09:44:15 NZST +1200, Matthew Whiting wrote: [...]
Stick with Telstra Cable. It is way better than ADSL. Warning: the Telstra cablemodem runs in transparent mode (good!) and does *NOT* provide any firewall functionality (irrelevant, as I would always provide my own anyway). For a suitable and very good firewall, get an old PC with 128MB RAM. CPU speed is irrelevant, but you need the memory. The stick either ipcop or pfsense on it. Both are turn-key appliances - or rather the software part of it. You don't need anything else. The PC must have 2 network interface. Add a cheap card if necessary. In one of the interfaces (the WAN one), plug the cable modem. In the other (the LAN one) plug a $30 8-port Ethernet switch. Plug all your computers into the switch too. As for ipcop vs pfsense - pfsense is clearly the more professional and better designed product, and I wouldn't run a server with ipcop, but in your case pick whatever takes your fancy. Which one is easier to operate is open for debate. They both install in 5 to 10min and do your job. Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
