Which router to buy

i would contact my isp and see what they recommend. then i would search the web to see what kind of problems/support seems available for those model numbers. spares? manuals? knowlegebase? active forums? if i couldn't find much that looked useful i wouldn't buy that one. i would get cisco or ? my netopia router has been very reliable. which is good as their support stinks. i would try to buy 'mainstream' cisco model that would look good on my resume. i would stay away from dlink and linksys and cheap stuff. (so if you haven't yet bandied numbers about in front of the boss - *don't* (smile) until ducks all lined up. practice saying twice the amount out loud that you have in mind if forced to verbally quote (smile). i would try to get a spare into the budget.
i would try to get more ports than i thought i needed. i would look into how am i gonna talk to the thing. telnet? not too secure. serial cable better maybe. browser access from LAN better maybe. how easy is it to reset from my chair? do i want/need access from outside lan? if i can get at it, others can also. that is downside of mainstream cisco model number btw. btw what is your plan for dmz, firewalls? how about different os for that. how easy is it to backup the configuration? flash the BIOS? just exactly what do i get to configure? i would try to get current and future requirements estimates *written* down and dated. i would have a look at the warranty period but wouldn't be a show stopper. lately seems push to sell stuff with long warranty. cheerfully send you a new one while you wait with no internet access (smile).
this is mission critcal piece of gear that will take whole enchilada down when it goes kerflooey. i'm just saying. last bit of sage advice , pump sales folks for free info. ask if seminar available free to new purchase. ask if any training videos available. ask if any simulators available. like that. have fun. wish i had a budget

Had a play around with a few of these, I like the Checkpoint firewalls, but very expensive I think.

Also extensively used an Shiva firewall.

You can normally encourage salesmen to give you demonstrations of them ;)

low cost solution with great support. Purchase a Cisco 1605-r. Purchase smartnet from CDW.
Happy Routing
Ras.

Woops.
1605 Routers canbe found on ebay for less than 200.00 They have 2 ethernet interfaces. I would be happy to be more specific if you can provide additional network information. Stay away from lower cost routers they don't have the power or options or support that Cisco Offers.
Ras.

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