Rating: 
Summary: FIrst Class Piece of Equipment, But...
Review: I had setup a wireless Linksys router for a friend in his Win XP and ME machines, and it went without a glitch, using the automatic install CD. This one is not the same. The dedicated hard wire version, does not work with the CD. I set it aside, and then followed the instructions, that came as a quick start fold out guide, and it configured like a dream.
I like the idea that this unit comes with the built in hardware firewall. In addition, I highly recommend the free version of Zone Alarm. PC Magazines editors choice. Simply get the free version at ZoneAlarm.com. I loaded the included Norton Internet Security, and it ate up a good bit of system resources, which overall slows the machine down. I'm using Verizon DSL, and they have a web site, that measures connect speed. The Norton IS slowed me down to a consistent 600. When I removed it, by using uninstall, and loaded the Zone Alarm firewall, I got a consistent 750.
I tried everything. Verizon was getting 864 at my box outside. I had another machine that was getting 750 consistently. Both machines are exact mirrors of one another-all the same components. I even brought back a MSFT ethernet card, and replaced it with the same Linksys PCI Card as the other machine. Then I remvoved Norton. It sings. Get Zone Alarm.
This Linksys router does not slow your connection down at all. I hooked a phone line up, through a window, directly into the outside phone box, and ran it directly to the modem. It went from the modems ethernet port, to my PC. In plain words, I eliminated the router from the loop, and got the same exact performance results as when the router was hooked up.
When I put the Linksys PCI card in the other computers in my home network, when I booted them up, they automatically, found my internet connection. If it doesn't with yours, be sure and check-automatically detect proxy settings, in Internet Explorer.
I love the new set up. Networking the machines is great. Being able to share files, printers etc, and most importantly the super fast internet connection. No getting bumped off.
If you qualify for DSL, I highly recommend it. Once again, I am getting a consistent 750. My friend has cable, and although he occassionally gets 1 meg, their are times when he runs at 6 to 30. (That is not a typo). Consistency, and reliability, and first class service is what I am getting from Verizon. Don't beat them up, they will come out, and pamper your connection until it is right.
One other thing that is really important. DSL is super sensitive to noise in the lines. If you are having a problem, they send out a cable specialist, and shorten your line. Phone lines run toward the service, and oftentimes, are in mulitple loops, which run away from your service terminal as well. More noise, more distance, equals slower connect times. Also listen real hard for hum in your house line. Get on a phone with a volume button, and turn it all the way up. Get a dial tone, press 5 for example. It should be DEAD quiet. If it is not, improve your internal phone lines. Don't run them along power lines etc. Start with one connection, then reattach one at a time, until you find the one that hums, then fix it. It will ruin your performance.
I guess I am rambling. This Linksys router, is a winner. Their PCI cards are tops as well. Since all of the Tech professionals I know strongly recommended me to not go wireless, due to the ease of intrusion, into your internet connection, and more importantly your private computer-information, I went with this version. Glad I did. It works great. Highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Plenty of Problems
Review: I've really liked Linksys products before, but I don't think I will ever buy them again. Tech support for existing firmware with known bugs is non-existent. Time filtering of packets requires that the router be able to acquire the correct time. The current version of the firmware can't. The documentation for the filtering is poor, and doesn't explain how the rules are applied.
Rating: 
Summary: Works - but not problem free!
Review: Buyer Beware - I have been using for the BEFSX41 for over six months now. Initially everything was great, easy setup, tests from GRC showed everything looks good. Then it started auto-booting. To say the least it is very annoying waiting for it to come back in middle of web browsing. Testing hasn't produced a consistent pattern. Contacted technical support - their solution is to revert to older firmware version. Old firmware version has known exploitable vulnerabilities, but tried anyway (they are tech support right) which reduced frequency of problem, but has not truly corrected the problem. I then went searching for answers - I'm not the only one seeing this and other problems. Check out http://www.dslreports.com/. Do search on BEFSX41 and read up on their forum. I'm sorry, but I haven't started buying competitive brands to do comparisons so I can't recommend a better alternative. Personally though I'm working on building a Linux based firewall. I know that is not a solution for most people, but illustrates my frustration with Linksys and their parent Cisco in this product and it's support.
Rating:
Summary: Could not get it to work. Will return it for refund.
Review: I give it 2 stars, but cause I like how easy it is to use, but for some reason it just refuses to work on my network. I used to have the BEFSR41 when I had a cable modem, and that worked great. No problems with it what-so-ever. So, I naturally assumed this would be just as easy to set up. I have since moved and now have DSL service using Sprint's Fast Connect. I purchased this product in an attempt to connect my other 2 PCs to the Internet. I've spent way more time that I want to admit trying to get this product to talk to the Sprint DSL modem. I have had no success. I went to the Linksys website and read through the FAQ as well as the KnowlegeBase. I followed all the instructions to the letter and I has never worked. I even resorted to sticking in the install CD and using their Wizard program to set up the router. The wizard program failed to connect as well. It very frustrating since the BEFSR41 model was so simple to setup and use and I never had any problems with it (I wish I had not given it away). I plan on returning the BEFSX41 and buying the BEFSR11 (or BEFSR41). Hopefully, I'll have better luck with either of those products. If not, I'll have to buy the Sprint supported one and I really do not want to since It's twice the cost of these products. Supposedly this product supports the Sprint network, but I do not believe it anymore. If you are using Sprint Fast Connect DSL Service, this product may not work for you.
Rating:
Summary: Works well when not using advanced features.
Review: I have several computers behind this firewall/router (SBC Yahoo DSL w/ Efficient Networks speedstream 5100 cable modem).
Had to reconfigure the LAN a little for each machine to use the router defaults (and DHCP). Installation of the router was painless. Working for a month now with no problems, however I am not talking to a time server and the only change from defaults was to forward the IDENT port to /dev/nul for security reasons. Others complain about the VPN feature...haven't used it. I guess my advice is; If you just looking for the switch/router/firewall features then this is a winner.
Rating:
Summary: Avoid this one
Review: This box has plenty of problems. I'm very unhappy with it.
Dynamic DNS doesn't work.
SNMP is broken.
I'm using it to VPN from my home to our company's netscreen.
The router is crashing at least twice a day because of some problems with the VPN.
What's worse: linksys doesn't seem to be able to fix their bugs any more. Every time they release a new firmware that fixes something, it breaks something else (like e.g. SNMP).
It's a royal mess.
Rating:
Summary: Good news & bad news
Review: Bad news: Had to send first one back. Good news, no argument from tech support. They issued a RMA immediately. Good news: Second router does most of what it should. Bad news, it crashes when we upload big files (>2meg) and try to use the cookie, Java, and active X filters. Turn off the filters, and it works OK. We are pushing the little guy pretty hard. We use it as a router between 4 LAN side computers and a WAN side computer (the internet server). We are pushing 100 Mbps through the router both ways (one direction at a time). Good news, our church bought one to connect to a fractional T1 line and it works w/o a problem. Our installer strongly recommends the latest firmware based on his experience. Bad news, the published instrutions apply to the older firmware. The new firmware is much different, but very easy to use. All in all, it probably will work in most applications, but don't try to push it to the specification limits.
Rating:
Summary: BEFSX41 is a dog
Review: The Linksys BEFSX41 is a real dog. My first one rebooted whenever I uploaded jpeg files with the firewall enabled. With the firewall off, it uploaded fine. Tech support said that it seemed to be a hardware problem so they sent me a new one. The new one is even worse. It reboots at random. Tech support said I should flash the new firmware (version 1.50.18). Don't do that if you want the router to work at all. We had to force a reflash of the older version to get it to be able to boot up again. Now it still reboots at random times, and sometimes I have to force the reboot. It seems to want to stay in its diagnostic state with the evil red light on for a long time. Tech support now wants me to get another new one. What makes them think that it will be any better?
Rating:
Summary: Worst technical support I've EVER seen
Review: Shortly after purchasing and using the product, I looked at its internal logs and noticed hundreds of lines indicating port scans (mostly UDP but some TCP). They were colored green. I couldn't find any information about this in the Linksys manual, so I called customer support. Not only could I barely understand them, they couldn't even answer my simple questions - are these port scans getting through? What does green indicate? Frankly, I don't even know if they understood my question. I have the feeling that this outsourced tech support has no expertise with this product. After several calls, I reached a tech that sent me a firmware patch "downgrade" to install. It turned out that he sent me the wrong firmware patch as it was for a completely different Linksys router. Had I installed it (if it would even install), I might have lost access to the device altogether. Beware: if you run into problems with this device, you're on your own.
Rating:
Summary: Looks good Ready to go
Review: You don't have to look any further if you want a device to share your internet conection. I couldn't get over just how easy this kit is to use. Just plug the cables in and you are cooking on gas. Terrific. Reccomended to all.
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