[TriLUG] local wifi router

[Paul G. Szabady]

I currently use a Draytek router and have been experiencing both lockups 
as well has limitations with port forwarding.  So I am also looking for 
a new router.  Since seeing this thread, I've started to once again 
consider OpenWRT (or tomato, etc).  But I have a question (or more) 
about the TPLink WR1043ND.

According to the TPLink manual 
(http://www.tp-link.com/resources/software//de/de_201081311270414.pdf), 
I see that it can handle standard port forwarding (ie: port 22 to port 
22, port 80 to port 80, etc), but I don't see an option to for 
redirecting ports.  I need to be able to forward non-std ports to std 
ports.  (ie: port 2001 to machine1 port 22, port 2002 to machine2 port 
22, etc...)

Does anyone know if any of the open source firmware is better (faster 
and more stable) than another?  It looks like tomato will do what I 
need.  Assuming it (or another) does what I need, does anyone know if 
there are any limitations to the number of connections?  If so, how many?

Note: I realize that the more there are the bigger performance hit I'll 
take.  But most of what I am doing will be in VMs and not all systems 
will be up at the same time.  So I'm mainly interested in begin able to 
set up access to 10-12 machines, but typically only use 2-3 VMs at a time.

Would anyone with experience with NAT and small routers have an opinion 
or suggestion regarding this or another router?  Lastly, I really like 
the Gig connections on the LAN and WAN.  Especially since I periodically 
route lots of data (30-40GB) from one internal network to another (Don't 
ask - long story).

Thank in advance!

--
Paul
@ Thy Service

On 2/20/2012 12:26 PM, jason tower wrote:
> i got the WR1043ND although like i said i haven't reflashed it (yet)
>
> On 02/20/2012 08:29 AM, Derek Linz wrote:
>> The ones we stock at Intrex use ath9k, 100% open source firmware
>> and driver. Both (WR841ND and WR1043ND) work (well) with OpenWRT,
>> though the 841 can barely squeeze the essentials in.
>>
>> -Derek Linz
>>
>> On Sunday, February 19, 2012 05:10:22 PM Bill Farrow wrote:
>>> On Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 4:58 PM, Igor Partola
>> <igor at igorpartola.com> wrote:
>>>> I have seen many recommendations for TP-Link routers and
>> assurance that
>>>> they work well with DD-WRT. Personally, I've stayed with the safer
>> choices
>>>> of Linksys and Buffalo and have been happy with those.
>>>
>>> Just be aware that dd-wrt compatible does not mean that the router
>> has
>>> open source drivers even if it does run linux. The dd-wrt firmware
>>> typically uses closed source, binary only, drivers for the wireless
>>> and ethernet switches, and these drivers only work with very specific
>>> and out of date kernel versions. So if you want the flexibility of
>>> upgrading it again in the future, or trying out some of the newer
>>> kernel facilities, find a router that is supported by OpenWRT.
>>>
>>> Bill