why should I be limited to Microsoft's ISA, when I could use Winroute or something else at a much lower price? How about open source solutions? Don't any open sourced firewall solutions exist for Windows 2000?
I have a low opinion of WinRoute. I'm not aware of any open source firewall solutions.
You are almost making it sound like my only options are to buy that mega expensive ISA, and remember, I am out of work and not earning an income.
I know you are out of work and do not have an income right now. That is why I'm trying very hard to not say "just bloody get Linux working already". If you want to do Windows, you are going to have to accept the limitations that come of using legacy software. All firewall software for Windows that is worth its salt is very expensive. Them's the breaks, sorry.
Not like I have a choice anyway, I already have the W2K Server license and Linux don't work on my hardware. Plus I cannot afford hardware that Linux will run on, for being out of a job. So I work with what I have.
Your best bet is probably to save up a few dollars and obtain something like a [link|http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&krd=1&from=R8&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=rt314|NetGear RT314 off eBay] - I got mine for 80 quid second hand a couple of years ago, and they're REALLY cheap now. Perhaps an Xmas pressie? What this wins you is a packet-filtering firewall in hardware with NAT and port-forwarding. It's also got a 4-port switch built in. Verra nice.
This route is probably going to cost you less in time and money than trying to make Windows something it can't be - a low-cost firewall.