Alcatel SpeedTouch 510

I have this xDSL router/modem for about 3 years.

In almost everyday use for the time I have it never failed.

It has good wizzard for internet configuration and a lot of other options (like DNS).

Most of configuration is done trough WEB interface, but some more advanced features like Firewall are available only trough telnet, wich is textual interface like in DOS time.

This device comes it two configurations, with and without (like mine) built in switch.

It is not easiest device to setup, it requires some time to learn its functions and configure it correctly if you want to use it not only like a modem, but like router too, after that, it is very easy to use.

Every computer that is connected to your LAN can easily access the internet without special settings (just enable DHCP).

If you have version without built-in switch, buy switch. Anyway 4 ports built in switch is not much, but for few computers and maybe a network printer is good enough. However I use 8 port switch, and currently only one port is free (computer with multiple NICs).

Routing function of this device is fully transparent, everybody in the network works like he would be the only one who connected.

Alcatel Speed Touch 510 obtains IP and DNS address for Internet Service Provider automatically, and has its own DNS server wich serves networked devices.

If you use DHCP on your computer, this device lets you automatically to obtain IP address and it gives you DNS IP automatically.

If you manually gave your computer IP address, you will need to input DNS server address (IP of router). On some UNIX versions it will be a little more complicated.

Some advanced functions like Firewall are available only trough textual interface of telnet.

In the summary, it is a very good device, with not easiest configuration, but it is very functional for home and office network with multiple computers that needs access the Internet independently.

There are other similar devices with easier configuration that give the same functionality, but this one gives everything that is needed.