As per topic title, i need some opinioins / suggestions on what broadband router to use for my company.

There will be about 40 internet users. Some on wired connection but most users will connect thru wireless.

I believe those cheap router for home use can't handle that amount of users and traffic. And I need to have strong hardware base firewall, build-into the router if possible.

So basically, i need recommendation on what Broadband Router and wireless AP to use.

Btw, is 2 X 4MB ADSL package (soho) for 40 users for normal web browsing and minimal download ?

Thanks.

This post has been edited by tony: Jul 2 2009, 10:49 AM

Maybe can try use Zyxel
Spec
-LAN/DMZ: 4 ports auto MDI/MDI-X 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
-WAN: 2 ports auto MDI/MDI-X 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
-Firewall
-VPN
-Anti-Virus/IDP (Intrusion Detection and Prevention)
-Anti-Spam
-Content Filtering
-Auto fail-over, fall-back
-Dial Backup
-Dual WAN ports for WAN backup and Load Balancing
<a href="http://www.zyxel.com/web/product_family_detail.php?PC1indexflag=20040908175941&CategoryGroupNo=4327696E-D248-4212-9CC7-97A5725A2764">Zywall</a>

Modem adsl optional.....

May i know what's the model no, coz i would like to read some review first

Draytek 2910G or Peplink BA200. If you just want to have outbound load balancer, look for Vigor 2910. If you look for both inbound and out bound, then look for peplink ba200. Both can support up to 50 user, very robust and have been tested in a hotel for their customer surfing. If you want to have better, you can look for VigorPro200B or Peplink BA710.


You can check the infomation from http://www.pol.com.my/product.htm

thanks

This post has been edited by polsb: Jul 5 2009, 07:43 AM

U need a VPN router with load balance such as Linksys RV042 :-)

TPLink 488T 4 port wan load balancer (balance 4 streamyx) = RM9xx
-working QOS (Limit internet speed for each IP)
-working firewall (block unwanted site by IP or Domain)
-block p2p (no need to explain)

DLink 24 ports 10/100 Switch = RM2xx
Linksys 8 ports 100/1000 Switch = RM2xx

Used this equipments at my cybercafes to server 60-100 pcs without any problem.

WRT54GL with DDWRT firmware (access point) = RM2xx

(I'm not selling stuffs but just give your rough pricing)

This post has been edited by izzani: Jul 5 2009, 10:58 AM

ZYWALL 35 UTM

Thanks for the advise.




The TPLink 488T features and price looks promising, may i know wherecan i get it ? I think not many shop selling TPlink products.

Btw, your cybercafes use fix ip adsl or normal adsl and how many line u applied ?

I don't need to buy the switches coz company still have few unsed 3com 10/100 24 ports switches.

How's the wireless signal of WRT54GL ? I need to cover quite a huge space, 2 floors with 15 rooms each floor.

Thanks for the reply.

---

Added on July 7, 2009, 12:30 pmDoes anyone heard about Fortigate product ? How's the performance ?

This post has been edited by tony: Jul 7 2009, 12:30 PM

I also need solution with 2 IP address (2 WAN) and 2 wired PC + 3 wireless PC.

This post has been edited by stasio: Jul 12 2009, 12:04 PM

how about hgiga brand ?

it is the load balancer brand from taiwan. it is quite reliable.


This post has been edited by bluecoat: Jul 12 2009, 05:02 PM

to cover 2 floor, i suggest u use router + repeater

You may try this. You may contact Michaelsoft DDS Sdn Bhd.
Or you may PM me.

1) FQR8010
Small Internet Café, Hotel, School, Business, Hospital
3x100Mbps WAN + 1x100Mbps Switch LAN
9" Iron housing
Capacity: Less than 50 PCs in LAN
Support Load balance, QoS, Firewall & DoS/ARP
prevention, Access Control, QnoDDNS, Log

2) FQR8030
Small/Medium Internet Café, Hotel, School, Business,
Hospital
2x100Mbps WAN + 4x100Mbps Switch LAN
Intel IXP 266Mhz processor, 64MB SDRAM
Maximum 30,000 sessions, 200Mbps Throughput
Capacity: Around 100 PCs in LAN
Support Load balance, QoS, Firewall & DoS/ARP
prevention, Access Control,

3) FQR8035
Medium Internet Café, Hotel, School, Business, Hospital
2x100Mbps WAN + 8x100Mbps Switch LAN
Intel IXP 533Mhz processor, 32MB SDRAM
Maximum 70,000 sessions, 200Mbps Throughput
Capacity: Less than 200 PCs in LAN
Support Load balance, QoS & Smart QoS,
Firewall & DoS/ARP prevention, Access Control,
Block P2P

Dear Tony,

For the users, what kind of traffic you expect them to use. For normal internet browsing for 40 users which main job doesn't involve continous connection to internet, together with a good bandwidth management firewall, I believe a single 4MB ADSL or dual 2MB ADSL is more than enough. We have the experience of runnning an internet hotspot with 40 users connected concurrently through a single 1.5MB Streamyx line, and the internet speed is good enough for normal web browsing.

For your setup, you'll need two modem. Normally Streamyx will provides you with Riger's ADSL modem, which is not realiable. I suggest you use Aztech, D-Link or any other brand besides of course the Rigers

To be continued...

---

Added on August 18, 2009, 8:38 am

For cheap adsl modem/router, the trick to use them is not to let them dial streamyx, but dial using the load balancer/firewall.. It is because of the limited RAM of the modem/router, which may cause your internet connection to hang. Normaly, the load balancer/firewall has better specification because of the higher level filtering (Level 4) that it does. Nevertheless, better specs ADSL modem is always better, but it is not necessary in most cases.

if you stick with 2 ADSL lines, the minimum thing that you need is a reliable load balancer with failover capability. Many equipments support this functions, as shown is the previous post.

There are many equipments which claim to be a complete firewall, but many fall short in the implementation. What you should be looking for when searching for a good firewall is

1. Level of filtering (packet based is one of the best)
2. Ease of use, web based management
3. Bandwidth Management to optimize your bandwidth investment and user experience
4. User Management, if you want to monitor your users
5. VPN if you want your employee to remote connect to your office.
6. Number of concurrent users
7. Content filtering, and capable to block website based on users & groups etc

Happy searching

This post has been edited by Emonsas: Aug 18 2009, 08:38 AM

Lease line
and O2Security

Dear Emonsas,

your post really imformative and details. thanks

currently we are using 2 X 1.5MB SDSL with 3rd party router/firewall by vendor.

we pay quite a lot on monthly basis for maintainance and both SDSL.

however, with that amount of money spent, we still feel slow in surfing.

i think the reasons are, torrent and video streaming. which is not allowed in our company, but most of the users are not staff, so we can't do much about them.

so my main concern will be blocking all those torrent and video streaming.

unfortunately, HQ insist we have to use the same hardware firewall as they do which is from fortigate.

so i cant make my own choice now.

This post has been edited by tony: Aug 18 2009, 11:17 PM

Dear Tony,
1st, which Fortigate firewalls are ur office using? Is it Fortigate UTM appliance
http://www.fortinet.com/products/fortiwifi/50B.html

Fortigate is one of the best firewalls around. You should be able to block/throttle unnecessary internet usage like torrent/p2p sharing by looking at layer 4 filter.. I'm not sure though whether it can block/throttle video streaming since it requires layer 7 (application filter) though.

It is true that your hq requires you to stick to fortigate since they have spent on it, and is expecting some result from their investment. I suggest you play around with the setting and pick up the best setting that can fits in your office requirement.

Btw, I strongly believe 1 SDSL line is enough for normal web surfing applications for 40 people.

This post has been edited by Emonsas: Aug 19 2009, 08:43 AM

Our HQ is using 100 series, so they want us to use the same series.

The lowest range in 100 series is 110c and i am shocked to find out that it is priced around 13~15k.

There are dealers selling that product but very hard to find dealer who can provide installation + hardware maintainance in Penang though.

It's normal for enterprise grade UTM devices for that price tag, you can check Cisco ASA series priving and get an idea the price tag for product categories like this.
Fortigate provide web filtering, p2p blocking (depend on protocol) and good session handling plus stable. We are using their 200A,60A and 50A,i would suggest you go for 50a, it's the lowest model in this range, able to serve 50 user without much prob, cost around 3k only. configuration isn't hard refer to their documentation should be able to get you started.

yeah...i think 100 series spec is overkill for our branch. will try to get the 50 or 60 as you mentioned.

i dont mine if they surf porn or gambling site, i just hate they use p2p. No matter how much bandwidth you have, it will never enough.

Dual LAN device routing