Why do you say Telstra Cable is way better than ADSL? Telstra have upped their prices for the plan we are on (4Mbps and 5GB/mth) and I was thinking maybe XNet would be a better deal. The XNet plan I was looking at would limit upload to 128kbps though, I hadn't noticed that before. I've been a bit disappointed by the speed I'm getting with Telstra (usually only around 1.6-1.8Mbps, I just checked and it it was just under 3Mbps now, so not bad I guess). I guess I wouldn't expect XNet to be better than that, was more a cost thing. I'm interested that you say Telstra is /way /better than ADSL. If you could elaborate, that'd be cool :) > 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 > >
-- Matt (Matthew Whiting) +64 (0)3 377 6290 | +64 (0)21 033 7181 | www.interactingorganisms.net
