>Jerry,
> IPChains = New Life for 486's!!!
>
>Even 486/33's with 16 MB RAM do the trick!

Cost: 0 to 25$ !!!


>
>A 486/66 or a P90 will really run circles around the low-end Cisco routers (cost $2500) - actual performance

My Cisco 675 DHCP server (given to me for free by my ISP because I was one of the first to sign up for their new ADSL service, a year ago) is at around $400, the last time I looked. My next router will be what you have described above.
I am getting a second computer for my wife and we will be shareing the ADSL, so.... I will be using ipchains and a couple more UPS. Ah, my own home network. This will be the first network I've had in my home office since I retired my consulting business 5 years ago. Two PC for less that $25 each, and two 10/100 Base T NICs for $25 each, some cable and connections, and my ONE copy of SuSE!!!
Life is great!


> tests have demonstrated.
>
>The wonderfulness of NAT boxes is that you only pay for ONE line and get all machines on
>simulaneously. IP Chains does NAT, firewall, portforwards.
>
>Now, there are boxes out there you can buy for $200-$700 to do this, but with a real PC and Linux,
>you have a flexible solution.
>
>My company actually markets a PC- linux-based solution, instead of some closed proprietary black box,
>but if you know what you're doing, who needs us! :-) We're just around for all the rest that don't want to even try!

People pay for their ignorance or convenience. With me it's probably 50-50!!