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Review of the SMC Barricade™
SMC7004BR
4-port 10/100 Mbps Broadband Router
Last updated: 12 September, 2000
A typical day corresponding with visitors to our Networking
and Internet Forum...
jonsam: 'I
have 4 computers (and one printer) hooked up in a peer-to-peer network via
a hub. Computer A has Win 98 SE and has two
NICs: one to the hub and another to a cable modem. Computer
B is a Win 2000 computer and also has the same setup as above (yes - a second
cable modem). I want Computer C and D to
be able to access the internet... to collect email and surf the web. The
cable MODEMs connected to Computer A and B are hooked to the cable, but use
independent services.'
lbyard: 'For
sure, if it were me, I would:
 Eliminate
the second cable MODEM.- Not use ICS software.
- Buy an SMC Barricade Broadband Router'
'But, you see, that is me, because that is exactly what
I have, one cable MODEM, four computers, four network adapters, and a Barricade. This
combination works far better than any other, software and hardware, which
I have tested, including SyGate,
which is better than [Win 98 SE] ICS. The
real nice thing about it is that none of the other computers have to be on
for any one of the others to access the Internet. Just that computer, the
Barricade, and the cable MODEM have to be on. Furthermore, for the first
time, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) works really well on my
network... because the Barricade is the DHCP server and I leave it on all
of the time. And, you have a four-port Ethernet switch, a very good printer
server, and an interface to an external dial-up MODEM, in case the cable
goes down, in the same little bitty box. For those cable systems that
memorize the MAC address of a specific network adapter, the Barricade can
beat that system as well. It can clone an adapter’s MAC address—make
itself look like the adapter to the cable MODEM (and company). Finally, the
Barricade can be accessed and configured from a password-protected, web browser
interface, from any computer on the network. A Barricade is quite inexpensive,
considering what it does and how well it does it. I am very(!) impressed
with this product ...'
jonsam: 'I
had a look at the product and noticed it has 4 ports. Since I have four computers,
one printer and a possibility of a fifth laptop connecting in from time to
time, this is not enough ports. Does this mean I need two of these
or can I use my regular hubs to connect to this? I also
see that it supports Win98, NT but does not say Win2000. '
lbyard: 'I
also have a 5-port switch... Running a straight-thru
cable from one of the ports on the SMC Barricade to the uplink port
on the switch works just fine. I would certainly think that Win 2000 would
work well... The only router-specific software is the driver for the printer
server (that's what I really like about this hardware solution).'
jonsam: 'Does
the cable modem hook to the second NIC in the computer or directly to the
barricade? My cable provider requires the account number to be in the
Identification box under Computer Name in the Networking properties. If I
remove that name or change it, my connection no longer works. Can the
Barricade overcome that?'
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