Rating: 
Summary: Easy and fast !
Review: Bought the 1 port version to use for Bellatlantic DSL service. Installed the (reall badly compiled) BellAtlantic DSL setup software to get my username/login set. Once I had this I removed the BA software and drivers. Configured one of my networked computers for the default router IP and mask. Accessed the router, set the config and ensured it connected. YOU MUST upgrade the firmware ASAP to get the PPoE to work correctly. It is very easy to do. Then reset my PC's network settings for DHCP and rebooted, That was it ! I was on the net no problem. **With the BA software, my DSL connection was very slow. With it removed and using this router I was near T1 speeds.** Of course it helps that I am 1/8 mile from the CO but, the Linksys Router definatley gives better performance and is easier to set up. This is a can't lose buy !
Rating: 
Summary: It does it's job, but not without problems
Review: When my brother came home from school, he was used to that fat T1 line they had going to his dorm room. Suffice to say, using my mothers AOL account just wasn't going to cut it, he wanted a piece of my cable modem. I didn't want to do it, for obvious reasons, but he was willing to but the supplies and I had never networked anything before, and always wanted to try. Plus, we could play Starcraft and Quake against each other. This router does work well. With me and my brother both downloading heavy, it does a fantastic job of juggling bandwidth and I barely notice any slowdown. It sets up it's own firewall, which I dont know much about except it sometimes blocks my downloads and I have been searching and looking for a way around to no avail. That brings me to my major problem with this product: Support.The manual is a joke and there's nothing online to help you out. This product really expects you to know what you're doing in order to get it up and running, I had to get a network friend of mine to help me out because I couldn't understand what the manual was trying to say with all the tech words, (I'm a designer, not a networker :) That aside I have been pretty happy with the linksys, and with 4 ports, I have room to grow here if I want to.
Rating:
Summary: Great product, but there are other solutions
Review: Although Linksys definetly created a great product in this EtherFast Router...it is also a costly method. There are other ways to do this, including just purchasing a hub/switch for between $50-$70, and then running the Cable Modem/DSL line through that, and using Windows 98 SE's 'Shared Internet COnnection' service. But this is a somewhat harder method to use. However, as far as ease of use, and effectiveness, nothing beats this bad boy!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a solution that works as advertised.
Review: I have tried Microsoft ICS, Wingate, and other internet sharing schemes. Wingate worked to a point but always seemed to be tentative and fussy and often would not allow sharing without reboot of machine. I installed this product in a hour or so and it works just as advertised. Good product. Adequate docs, and great price at Amazon. Received it in two days with regular shipping. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants easy and working internet sharing on a cable modem home network. I use Roadrunner with no problems. Thanks Linksys.
Rating:
Summary: Works like a charm
Review: Just installed my unit. Had a technical qustion and since my Cable comapny would not assist me I call Linksys Support. Got my problem resolved within minutes. Would highly recommend this product.
Rating: 
Summary: Router: maybe. Customer service: Extremely poor
Review: I'm not a network person, but after reading the generally positive reviews of the Linksys BEFSR41 router, I ordered it from Amazon. My main concern was getting some type of firewall protection, and various software options were causing problems with my Mindspring/Earthlink DSL connection. Their excellent customer service explained that it was because of their PPPoE system (whatever that means). They recommended a router, and specifically mentioned this router. It was easy to install, and initially worked just fine. An unexpected plus was the fact that the other computers on my home network also had fast access to the Web. But after several days, I had problems establishing a connection. The frustrating part was that the other network computers were online when the main computer wasn't. I tried resetting the modem, rebooting my computer, changing cables, fiddling with addresses and various protocols on the network (dangerous territory for me), and everything else I could think of, but the connection sometimes worked, and sometimes it didn't. It was then that I had a chance to call their tech support people. I was told they'd call back, but it would take at least 6 hours. They finally called back, and what a miserable experience it was; they were arrogant, surly, and clearly anxious to move on to the next customer. They offered absolutely no help except to tell me to wait for the next firmware upgrade--due in one week, they said. It's still taking me about 10-15 minutes of fiddling around with things to get a working connection, so if the new firmware upgrade doesn't help, the router is going back. I hope this review helps. I'm not trying to trash this product, because it clearly works for most people, and when I can make it work, it is really great. But if you are like me, and not really familiar with networking, you should be warned that Linksys is not going to be there to help you.
Rating:
Summary: amazing!
Review: i hooked my three comps up and another hub. it works wonderfully. the helpline is extraordinary. you have to buy this if you have more then one comp or are paying for extra IP's.
Rating: 
Summary: A good product with a great price, but...
Review: I received my unit yesterday. It took about an hour to get it up and running on my home network. For the most part it has worked flawlessly and is a big improvement in speed over using a Win98 machine and WinProxy as a firewall/router. However, there is one tidbit of info that seems to be missing from the quickstart instructions (and maybe from the manual -- I looked for it but didn't see it). It is that you must have a crosslink cable from your DSL modem to the WAN input of the router, a pass-through cable doesn't work. It took a bit of trial and error to figure that out. Other than that omission in the manual, it seems to be a very good product.
Rating:
Summary: What else could you want in a product?
Review: This unit is just simply da bomb. All my machines throughout my house now share a safe a secure internet connection. No one can see any of my computers so there is no worry of a trojan horse getting on my machine and someone watching my pc. The only thing I dont like is you can only forward 10 ports. you can use up 10 ports pretty fast and there is no way to forward more. Other than that this unit has paid for itself by far. Good job linksys.
Rating:
Summary: A great value
Review: I've had a network hub in my home for over a year, with a smattering of "project" computers -- a linux box, a windows 98 PC, a windows 95 laptop and a new PowerMac. I've had nothing but problems getting these very diverse machines to talk to one-another... until now. It was like magic. I plugged it in to my network hub, launched a web browser, and I was configured. It assigned IP addresses to everyone, and in the time it takes to reboot four computers, I was pinging, ftping and telnetting around my network without a problem. Now a once-unusable network of macintoshes, linuxes and windows pcs are talking to one-another over TCP/IP. It's a miracle! What sold me on this was the built-in DHCP server. But what was nice when I took it home was the fact that the router has a little web server built-in for configuring the device and setting the many (and impressive) security options. This means there is no crazy platform-specific client software or drivers required -- all you need is a network card and a web browser to connect and configure yourself. Also, the manual is available, but all of the help I needed was right there within the administration UI of the device. The story is not over yet -- I am now waiting for the Sprint people to come install my Cable access. More on that if I have troubles there, but for once in my life I am optimistic about a network installation. I am very impressed. Thumbs up from me and my family of computers!
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