How about a similar box for a modem connection? Choosing?

Post #34,817 by Another Scott 4/9/02 5:25:25 AM Reply	How about a similar box for a modem connection? Choosing? Hi All, Can I piggy-back? I've got 2 PCs (OS/2 and Windows) and a Mac (OS 8.6) that I want to have share a 56k modem connection. I've considered setting up [link\|http://www.fx.dk/injoy/product_info.html\|InJoy], in the SOHO version, on my OS/2 PC. Features it has that I want/need are "Dial-on-Demand" and VPN support (eventually). But this thread has got me thinking about using a hardware solution. I've found a couple of "modem routers" that seem to do what I need. Any thoughts? [link\|http://www.netgear.com/product_view.asp?xrp=4&yrp=10&zrp=33\|Netgear RM356], which has a V.90 modem and a 4 port hub ($220 - $250 or so), and a [link\|http://www.multitech.com/DOCUMENTS/datasheets/487.asp\|Multi-Tech RF102S], which has 2 serial ports and a 4 port switch ($152 or so). The Multi-Tech seems like a better fit for my needs, but I know too little about networking to be sure. How would you go about choosing between the two boxes above? If you didn't need the modem of the Netgear, would the Multi-Tech be a no-brainer (assuming equivalent reliability)? Should I just save the extra $100 and get InJoy SOHO? Thanks! Cheers, Scott.
Post #34,819 by Andrew Grygus 4/9/02 6:02:41 AM Reply	We used InJoy very successfully, but . . . . we didn't have any Windows machines on the network,so I don't know anything about supporting them. We used a 3Com LAN Modem (its actually a router but they call it a LAN Modem "for clarity"), a 3Com dual 56K router and a 3Com ISDN router. We also set up a Linux box with Dial on Demand. The biggest problem with these devices was NetBEUI, which causes them to dial frequently even though nobody needs the connection. InJoy filters this out with an OS/2 network, as do some of the devices, but we never quite got rid of it with the ISDN router or the Linux DoD box (though I'm sure there's a way). This was all years ago, and the devices have probably all been improved to handle this by now. If your network uses only TCP/IP, this is not a problem. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #34,862 by Steve Lowe 4/9/02 12:36:59 PM Reply	Re: How about a similar box for a modem connection? Choosin If you've an extra PC laying around, the [link\|http://www.smoothwall.org\|Smoothwall] Linux distro will do this for you. Also, the D-Link [link\|http://www.dlink.com/products/broadband/di704/\|DI-704] has a DB9 serial port that can used with an external modem. The device is sold as a WAN/LAN broadband router/firewall, but the serial port can be used with a modem or ISDN/TA on the WAN side. ----- Steve
Post #34,867 by Another Scott 4/9/02 1:17:25 PM Reply	Thanks! Hi Steve, Thank you very much for the pointers. Smoothwall looks like a great little product. Unfortunately, my old PC (most appropriate for Smoothwall) is a SCSI system and SCSI isn't supported yet (and doesn't seem to be a high priority). The D-Link DI-704 looks like a great box. And only $84! That seems to be the way to go for my needs. Thanks to you and Andrew for the pointers and comments. I greatly appreciate it. Cheers, Scott.
Post #34,874 by Steven A S 4/9/02 2:07:06 PM Reply	Are you sure about the D-Link? I didn't see anything in the documentation about the unit being able to handle a dial-up modem. I got the impression on my DI-713P that the serial port was just for direct connection to the unit if the network config got fscked. ~~~)-Steven---- "I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..." General George S. Patton
Post #34,882 by Steve Lowe 4/9/02 3:19:58 PM Reply	Re: Are you sure about the D-Link? Yup, it's in the manual for the 704. I've personally never used a modem on it, but my brother's got one with his ISDN modem hanging on it :) ----- Steve
Post #35,869 by Another Scott 4/18/02 9:59:34 AM Reply	Deal on DI-704P until 4/30/02. $20 rebate. Hi, Today I finally decided to buy a box. Looking at D-Link's web page I saw the DI-704P. It seems the same as the the DI-704 but also includes a print server. Looking at [link\|http://www.nextag.com\|NexTag.com] I see that it's only about $5 more than the plain 704. I bought one from [link\|http://www.techdepot.com\|TechDepot]. There's a link there for a form for a $20 rebate on the box. Hard to beat that (assuming the rebate is actually fulfilled...)! Ground shipping is $7.99. The fine print: It's valid on the 704P (and a few other models, but not the 704) purchased between 4/1-30/02. The rebate is not valid on purchases at: Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry's/Outpost.com, Micro Center, Nebraska Furniture Mart (!), OfficeMax, and PC Club. It may be a few weeks before I can hook the box up, but I'll try to eventually report back on it. Thanks again for the pointer! Cheers, Scott.
Post #35,996 by Another Scott 4/19/02 12:07:29 PM Reply	InJoy software dialer, firewall, VPN coming to Linux, Win. Hi All, An FYI for those considering software solutions... Beta versions of v3 of the InJoy Dialer and the InJoy Firewire are available for Win32 and RedHat Linux 7.2 (and OS/2 and eCS) testing at FX.dk. [link\|http://www.fx.dk/beta/\|Here]. The Win32 versions are supported on 2K and XP and will run on NT4. The products are shareware. The betas are free to use until the release. (I'm a registered user of the InJoy dialer for OS/2, but have no other connection with the company.) Cheers, Scott.

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