Mike, I can't answer all your questions, but I have the Cisco 675 ADSL router and the Linksys BEFSR41. Those sound like good prices for the Linksys, however I bought mine about a year ago for $100 ($130 w/ $30 rebate). As far as the Cisco 675 doing NAT, I'm pretty sure it doesn't, but I'll have to refer to my manual at home to be sure. Unfortunately, the Cisco site is pretty closed when it comes to technical specs. Actually, I've been tempted to sell the BEFSR41 since I bought the BEFW11S4 wireless, but I don't even want to think about the re-cabling nightmare I'd face for the few dollars I'd gain. eBay isn't selling it for much less than $70, often more. -=- Craig ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Nixon" <mcnixon at wwdb.org> To: <tclug-list at mn-linux.org> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 12:01 PM Subject: [TCLUG] Mediacom, Linksys BEFSR41, and Firewalls > Does anyone have any experience with Mediacom (as a cable internet provider)? > My high speed access options (in Maple Plain) are either DSL through Citizen Communications (~$50/mo) or Cable through Mediacom (~$30/mo if I get my own Cable modem). > > My employer will allow me to access their VPN (in windoze) over cable/DSL if I use a Linksys Router like the BEFSR41. The best price I see local is about $90 at MicroCenter or BestBuy, but Amazon.com has them for $70. Any other good deals I've overlooked? > > Does the Linksys Router do anything more than NAT? > (Doesn't a Cisco 675/678 DSL router do NAT? - my church doesn't have a firewall (hardware or pc), but I'd swear the Cisco 675 there is doing NAT) > I don't understand what other benefits I would get if I setup a linux pc to act as a firewall? (any good sites that explain this?) > > Thanks, > Mike Nixon > _______________________________________________ > Twin Cities Linux Users Group Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > http://www.mn-linux.org > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > https://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list > >