LINKSYS BEFSX41 Cable/DSL Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch/VPN Endpoint 10/100 (Half Duplex) 20/200 (Full Duplex) WAN Ports 10/100 (Half Duplex) 20/200 (Full Duplex) LAN Ports

Pros: Going strong since October 2004...

Cons: I have to do a power-reset about two to three times per year.

Overall Review: Since running short on network connections over the last 2.5 years, I was perusing the reviews trying to understand if I could add a simple switch to expand my ports. Reading the scatter-shot reviews, I remembered how confused I was upon selecting a router, and that I never came back to give a review. (so here we are) A caveat: I bought mine quite a while ago, but compared to all of the PC components that I've fretted over in the past years, I have to say that this router was one of my most painless purchases. I have no choice but to give it the highest compliment: "I don't think about it".

Pros: I think it works if you don't plan on using it as a VPN endpoint. I didn't test it, because I was buying this to be a VPN endpoint.

Cons: The unit reboots every 1 to 2 hours all on its own. Linksys just claims the unit is "Defective". I'm on the second unit and both do the exact same thing. Forums on the Internet point to flawed Firmware, and Linksys won't provide older, more stable versions of the firmware. It is also quite slow as a VPN endpoint. With 3DES/SHA1, it can only manage 1 Mbps across the VPN link (The two endpoints are connected to a 100 Mbps switch). I dropped Encryption to DES/MD5 and it could only manage 2 Mbps.

Overall Review: The other endpoint was a Watchguard Firebox III 700. Given some of the issues could have come from the Watchguard unit, the Linksys router should never reboot when it is having issues. I have the Watchguard unit working with another smaller SOHO Watchguard VPN router and the two never have problems. 1 Mbps would have been fine, however I cannot accept a unit that reboots on its own and fails to stay connected to an IPSEC VPN.

Pros: this product is a solid vpn endpoint solution, for thoes with the understanding of networking and network addressing. also a good isp that doesn't change your ip address very often is a Big plus! to do this i set the vpn with the strongest security settings available and set one end of the tunnel to allow any ip address that way you only have to mannage the tunnel from one end. IMPORTANT NOTE: use a good complex passphrase not a dictionary word! i have had a few connecting various networks for about three years and have had no troubles at all! if you need to connect to remote lans like i do to maintain computers its the way to go.

Cons: the only downsides i could see with this product is the quality of your internet provider. if you ip doesn't change often and you have a decent upstream speed 300kbps or greater you will be fine

Overall Review: don't even think about it if you have a satellite internet connection, the latency times up to the "bird" and back to the ground station will no allow a connection.

Pros: It routes

Cons: The VPN isn't stable. I knock eggs off simply because it is advertised as a VPN router, but doesn't work or i have a bad router (i updated the firmware also).

Overall Review: I have 4 RV042 running 6 VPNs. They are very stable and have been for years (the VPN literally hasn't dropped once x4). I thought i'd save a few dollars and buy the BEFSX41. It was a mistake. I've spent hours trying to get the VPN stable, it just doesn't work. I'm giving up and am going to work with the RV042 which has worked beautifully for years.

Pros: This unit has worked flawlessly for almost 6 years now. I have had trouble with a modem, and my cable provider several times. Often, tech support people would blame my router. Every time, the router was dismissed as a suspect. Ive upgraded the firmware a few times (as directed by ISP tech support). I recently discovered the 4/DMZ port to be perfect for my latest network device.....Wii. Wii doesnt work with the firewall ON, so I moved it to the 4/DMZ port...works like a champ. I have had more problems with cables, ISPs, PCs, and modems....but never this linksys router

Cons: none

Overall Review: Purchased from Newegg of course.

Pros: Easy to setup and works great

Cons: None

Pros: I use these VPN routers for the businesses I do work for. They've never let me down. Feature-packed, stable, and best of all has a great GUI.

Cons: Why the heck can't Cisco just let the low-level routers have as many port forwards as they want? Or at least double/tripple the current amount. I always run into a limitation with that.

Overall Review: I have not tried the alternative firmwares out there. Friends have mentioned it's great. I will have to try them some time.

Pros: Well, it works well. It is sorta plug and play. Fairly fast and good for most people.

Cons: It disconnects me from IRC every 2-5 minutes. I use IRC frequently for a variety of things and this is a huge problem for me. I looked on the linksys forum and on google and noticed that everyone with this router had this problem. As far as I know there is no solution to this problem, so if you intend to use IRC don't buy this router.

Overall Review: Besides what's stated above it is a decent router.