Share and share a like.

Every year somebody asks me where they can get a hub for their computer network. Every year I ask them why they need a hub, and every year I get the same answer: "Our cable/dsl was just installed and we need to share it with the [insert number here] computers in the apartment." And to this I tell my unenlightened friend's about the wonders of the router.

For those of you who are like my friends I will do a brief description of what a router does: Routers let multiple computers share a single address. Think of the router as a university mail room. There is one address for the mail room, but each package is then sent to a specific student based on certain markings on that package. A router does the same thing. It takes the single address provided by a cable/dsl/internet connection type of choice] provider and then shares that location with multiple computers.

The nice thing about Linksys routers is that they are EASY to setup. All of the software for the router is already on it. There is absolutely no software that needs to be run on the host machine. That means that the router is platform independent and can be connected to any computer with an ethernet connection. Of course you do have to have a computer with a web browser capable of interacting with the router's server if you wish to configure the router. Fortunately for most users the router comes preconfigured to do exactly what they want: share a cable/dsl connection. If you want to take advantage of the firewall or other settings you will have to connect to the router (at http://192.168.1.1 from within the private network behind the router) and make the necessary changes.

This particular router is very nice in that with the newest firmware (if you don't have Version 2 of the router, go to www.linksys.com and download the latest firmware, the software which controls the router) the interface is very sleek and gives you tons of control over the firewall. Besides that there is a built in four port switch. Normally if you get a router you need to get a separate switch, or hub, to connect multiple computers. With this router you can plug four computers right in and don't have to worry about the extra equipment.

Of course if you do need more than four ports just grab any linksys switch, plug it in, and you are ready to go. You are not, of course, obligated to get another linksys product, but they are solid performers with few problems and they have the benefit that all the routers, modems, hubs, and switches were designed so that they can be stacked on top of each other. Because of this the feet of one device fit into grooves on the top of the other devices, making it easier to keep everything neat on your desk, or in your sever closet if you have one.

My vote on this router is: Get it. It's easy to setup, easy to keep up, and it just won't quit. I've been running mine for over a year now and it can't be beat. I've moved it around, gone through power outages, and it won't go down. It even keeps all my settings through prolonged power outages, it all gets written to the device where as a few routers which store this information in RAM. So grab the Linksys, and share your connection with a friend or three.