Hardware firewalls

router

<networking> /roo't*/ A device which forwards packets
between networks. The forwarding decision is based on
network layer information and routing tables, often
constructed by routing protocols.

How is it not a "True" router, it doesn't Have to use routing protocols to be considered a router, it still routes routed protocols, just because its not usring rip or ospf or igrp doesn't mean its not a router. Not to mention it is also a Layer 3 device, there aren't that many things that aren't routers that run at layer 3...what else would you call this?

If you're saying a linksys doesn't do this at all you're ridiculus. it also says "often constructed by routing protocols" which doesn't necessarily mean they have to use routing protocols. The home networking market calls them routers, why don't you guys be less anal and refer to them as such.

I know its hardly the scope of a cisco but its still a router, no matter how dummed down it is...yeah you might think it only uses NAT, but they do route routed packets as well as allow static and dynamic default routes.

Regular Network Address Translation (NAT) uses a pool of external IP addresses to randomly use for internal clients. I don't think the Linksys or SMC does that. It lets you have one external IP address. This is another type of NAT called "NAT overload" or aka Port Address Translation (PAT).

you are correct here, however.

eviltechie, you don't realize what trend is saying, and why hes saying they are not routers, he doesn't think they're switches bud..

Heres another thread Peterke should read:
http://www.techwarelabs.com/communit...pic.php?t=3030

doing the same deal here you'd have a good cheap firewall / router..
You can also incorporate IDS for free and get all kinds of policies for attack signatures.

Using a Linksys with NAT is a gateway, not a router. If you use it as a router you need to enter the routing routes, which most users can't do. As far as I am concerned if there is no statefull packet inspection, than there is no firewall..

thats what i said but its still generally referred/titled to a router.