Linksys BEFSX41 EtherFast Cable/DSL Firewall Router (4-Port 10/100 Switch / VPN Endpoint)

Rating:
Summary: It worked without a hitch
Review: I bought this router/switch based on PC Magazine's editor's choice rating in the Nov. 19, 2002 issue. Wanted to move my Linksys "network-in-a-box" home network (3 computers, 2 print servers) to high-speed cable, but wanted the extra security provided by the firewall in this router. First, I upgraded to cable access on one of my computers by disconnecting it from the old network and connecting it to the new cable modem. After I got that setup working, I setup the router as directed. I used Linksys' automated setup. It copied over the Internet connection settings from the cable modem/service into the router setup. Bang, it worked. High speed access through the router. I used that access to download the most recent firmware for the router and installed that without a hitch. I then set up the other two computers as the directions dictated in just a few minutes, making sure to use the rounter to automatically assign IP address (it is a DHCP server, too). It all worked. No problems. Amazing. I use three of the four 10/100 ports on the router/switch for the computers and the fourth to attach to the Linksys 5-port switch I had left over from the old network. Through that I connect to Linksys and HP print servers to get to HP LaserJet and OfficeJet (duplex printer/fax/scanner/copier) printers. I just plugged this stuff in, followed the set up directions and it worked. I have had very good luck with Linksys equipment. My only complaint is that it would have been nice to have an eight-port rather than a 4-port 10/100 switch with all the other features of this device. A very minor complaint.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of Bugs!!
Review: I thought this would be a good firewall / router for my DSL connection after reading a positive PC Magazine review, but it is *extremely* buggy. Often reboots for no obvious reason. I downloaded the latest firmware, and that made the issues even worse!! Tried to revert to a previous, more stable version, but tech support never sent me the file. What a joke. The Cisco brand will suffer from this, especially among the small business crowd. Who wants this hassle? I'd rather pay more for a stable and secure product!

Rating:
Summary: Skip this review
Review: The review I wrote here was for a different Linksys product (Linksys BEFVP41 EtherFast Cable/DSL VPN Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch), and has been reposted there. I do NOT have experience with the BEFSX41 so please disregard this review. (message edited to remove review comments)

Rating:
Summary: VPN incompatible with ADSL service!
Review: What Linksys does not tell you on their website is that their box does not support PPPoA (protocol used by Qwest and many other DSL providers). Great as a firewall but absolutely useless for VPN. I spent more than 30 days trying to get it to work, and then could not return it--very frustrating!

Rating:
Summary: Works like a charm!
Review: You cannot beat the price for a VPN capable device. It works without a glitch with CISCO PIX FIrewall on the other end of the tunnel. Setup is a snap.

Rating:
Summary: Works Great!
Review: I replaced a switch with the router when I went with broadband. It took less than 5 minutes to get all my computers up and running.

Rating:
Summary: Used to be a good product, now nothing but junk - beware!
Review: I've hooked up about 8 of these units for various clients over the past two years. They _were_ great for creating cheap and user friendly tunnels to Netgear FVS318 VPN end-points and other BEFSX41 VPN end-points. Since Cisco took over Linksys, it seems like they've seriously downgraded to components while increase the firmware tasks. I've attempted to install about 3 Cisco co-branded BEFSX41's with limited success. Two clients required PPPoE for their DSL and neither could use their BEFSX41's to connect - trying various firmwares and power-cycling all components provided no help. I ended up returning the units to the retailer and replaced them with more expensive Netgear FVS318's. The third failed BEFSX41 wasn't using the VPN or PPPoE features and it started loosing about 30% of the packets sent to the WAN interface (measured with Net Chariot software). Eventually the 3rd unit would start flashing error lights and reboot frequently. I tried several firmware versions for the BEFSX41, finally restoring the original firmware. After a couple of days we could no longer even connect to the admin page, much less use the device as a router or even a switch!! Have fun calling Linksys tech support in India! All they can tell you to do is power-cycle your unit, restore the firmware settings to factory defaults, and flash your firmware - save yourself 2 hours on the phone and avoid calling. You'll be lucky if you can even understand what the Linksys tech support is saying - they definitely won't understand anything that isn't on their "tech support walk-through software". I'd rather deal with automated tech support than call Linksys drones - Linksys tech support receives a big fat "F"! Fast food workers are more technically proficient - in fact, that is where Linksys tech support would be working if they lived on this side of the pond. (<--Note: I'm not claiming I could support anyone in another language other than English - I just know enough to not even try). Hopefully Linksys/Cisco will realize if they want loyal cusomters they will eat a little of their bottom line and provide half-decent products and support!!

Okay, 'nuff said - I'd highly recommend you spend two or three times as much and get something better!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Reboots / Resets Every Couple of Hours
Review: I was using firmware 1.50.18 on a version "0" BEFSX41. The BEFSX41 started resetting every few hours last week. I bought a new version 2 BEFSX41 thinking this has to be a hardware failure problem. Wrong, the new one started doing the same thing. Taking advice received on DSLReports I went back to an older 1.45.7 firmware reputed to be more stable than the widely reported buggy 1.50.18. Same problem. Stay away from this thing.

Rating:
Summary: Nice router, fast, but doesn't support L2TP VPN
Review: The Linksys BEFSX41 is a faster and superior router to the closest Netgear. I've found Linksys products in general to be more reliable than Netgear. BUT, I've been migrated to a new VPN client that utilizes IPsec L2TP. Although the Linksys does support IPsec pass thru, it does not allow L2TP. A couple of the bad reviews relate to VPN and I suspect that the trouble is using L2TP IpSec VPN. A change to PPTP will allow the tunnel to pass thru. But if you need to use L2TP then a diffenent router is needed.
I would suggest the SMC Baricade SMCBR18VPN. Its better quality and supports L2TP. A 4 port version costs less, but unfortunatly both cost more than this Linksys.

Rating:
Summary: Linksys doesn't meet the challenge
Review: I purchased a Linksys router to go between a Dell Dimension computer and a Speedstream 5100 router. I literally tried for a week to get the router to work. I was on the phone with 4 representatives from Linksys over that period of time. I was on the phone for a total of 5 hours just to get the DSL service to run properly. It never worked. About two hours into the phone conversations, they told me that they couldn't help any longer and that it should be working, because the 192.168.1.1 page indicated that it was connected and the pings were all coming back favorably. I exchanged the first one with another, and three hours later with them on the phone, I still couldn't use the router. I searched for some reviews of routers, and saw something good about a D-Link router. I plugged it in, followed the instructions, and I was off and running in 15-20 minutes. I will never recommend a Linksys product.