Etherfast 4-port Cable / DSL router.

Note that my original review was altered so I've deleted the "replacement".

Partial native support because Javascript is required for setup. The router is good value now that the firmware problems have been significantly reduced.

• Compatibility: Partial Native Support
• Interface: n/a
• Case Proximity: External
• product website

• Average user rating: 8
• Number of comments: 3
• submitted by user: haiqu

haiqu

Original review 2001:
This product has had rave reviews and won awards from magazines, but I can't imagine why. The latest firmware is buggy, the setup user interface is crap and the only IP range that can be set is 192.168.1.x

Worse, it doesn't work with BeOS using settings that are fine with Windows. However, after hours of experimentation I've discovered the secret to making it work. The domain entered in the setup MUST be the same domain as that delegated to the ADSL line. Anything else will fail with "connection refused" messages.

Setup pages require Javascript, so change them from another machine first.

Added Jan 2003:
As originally tested this router was buggy and hard to use. Later firmware has been greatly improved, including the addition of uPNP support. Upgraded rating from 7 to 8. It loses two points for glaring security holes and poor firmware QC.

rating: 8

fatrat

I have a small LAN connected through one of these on a cable modem connection with no problems to report. With the latest patch, it will do IPSec (but won't do it out of the box, beware!) The configuration is done with a web browser and requires JavaScript - it can give Opera a hard time, so you're stuck doing any configuration from a machine that has Netscape or IE. Updates for it come in the form of Windows .exe files (or Mac executibles), so you can't apply new updates to the firmware without a Windows/Mac machine. Overall a nice little router to quickly firewall yourself and have your LAN share an IP address (NAT) on a cable modem if you aren't serving any files or services, and no fans so it's silent.

rating: 7

Faraiwe

Great little router, works flawlessly and hasn't let me down yet. recommend it all the way.

rating: 9