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Why spend hundreds of bucks on a expensive business class router for your home when you can make one yourself for under 60 bucks.
Over the years I have been a big fan of ClarkConnect . ClarkConnect is a way to turn an old PC into a powerful router/file server/web server/proxy device. This essentially means it is a computer that you plug your Internet connection and all your home computers into to provide you with excellent firewalled security as well as thousands of other features that may be handy.
CC is the epitome of overkill, but is right up my alley in that regard. I like to be able to do ANYthing I want to do with my home internet connection. It uses Linux as it's core OS, and runs quickly, effectivly and worked well for me for years. I would still suggest it to anybody who wanted a lot of control, wanted to learn someting new, and didn't mind getting their hands dirty.
Recently I have decided that I am tired of getting my own hands dirty however. My business goals are becomming bigger and bigger, and my personal "educational" time, (when I sit at a chair for hours on end trying to figure something out or make something work my way) has dwindled. I want something quick, simple, but still powerful enough to satisfy my need to tinker when absolutly needed.
Around a year ago everybodies favorite router company Linksys was bought up by Cisco. Cisco is "the" big gun when it comes to enterprise routers and firewalls. Cisco tossed the craptastic firmware in the Linksys and gave everybody a treat. A linux based firmware that was freely available to hack or modify whatever way you pleased, as long as you didn't mind losing your warrantee.
I really didn't care for quite some time about this news becaseu my CC box was working fine for me, and if it aint broke, don' fix it. Of course with my new desire to make the office more efficient, streamline my business goals and create a simler workflow for myself, the CC box looked like it would have to go. The only thing that held me back for so long was I really enjoy having netowrk storage so all my files are located in one main repository.
Along comes the Linksys Wrtssl54gs.
I love this thing.
This device has your standard features like wirless 802.11b/g capabilities. 4 port switch, administrative control panel via a webpage, blah blah blah...BUT...
It also has a USB port on it for a external hard drive.
Plug in a handy dandy external hard drive with any size IDE HD you want, (under 250 gig) and you have a really nice router with plenty of features as well as networked and secure storage.
All done right? Set it up and walk away...pffft...not me. I still have to dick around with it.
No less then 20 minutes after I got it home from the store and logged into it's admin page I already was swapping out the good, but not quite good enough for me, firmware.
I settled on the HyperWRT + Thibort15c hacked firmware.
This firmware extends so many features I can't get into it in this article. Point is however that it extends the device enough to make it a really good option for the person who wants to tinker, yet also wants rock solid stability. Byu using this combination you can set it and forget it for years, or tweak it to your hearts content. It is based on a Linux kernel so you could even make your own version of the firmware if you are so inclined.
In conclusion, if you need a good, fast, cheap router, but still have the "man" gene in you that forces you to perpetually screw with and tinker with stuff, this is the way to go. I bought my router for about 80 bucks from a local retail outlet. eBay may get you a better deal in the next few months.
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