IS there such a thing as a router that just routes?

[amnotanoobie]

NAT is the first firewall...
Are there routers that exist that just route but dont have built in firewalls or NAT?....
Is there a router with an off/on switch that doesn't have NAT or any built in firewalls? :?:

Here's the thing, plain and simple. By definition a router is made to route data, yeah. But here's the big thing, port forwarding is needed because all of the consumer grade routers are still dumb. Dumb in a sense that it couldn't know what device you really hook onto it, and also what applications you use. So for example downloading on bittorrent, it couldn't possibly instantly know what 'port' is assigned to it, so you need port forwarding. Also this is the same case for your PS3, unless it was set by the manufacturer it could'nt possibly know what port your PS3 uses. It actually doesn't even know that you hooked up a PS3 to it!


The firewall and NAT part is pretty much the parts that don't need configuring, not counting though the port forwarding thing. Pretty much you need the firewall so hackers wouldn't be able to get control of your pc and get access to important files, also some worms could be stopped by a firewall. Though I see that you want to avoid the configuration part of it, I highly recommend that you still get a firewall; It's a case of 'prevention is better than cure' idealogy.

Port forwarding isn't a hard thing for popular brands of routers now. PortForward.com (http://portforward.com) does provide a guide to common routers and the ports of programs and other hardware.

 

[it_guy]

the only way a switch would work is if he manually configured his PC and his playstation to the same IP address from his ISP (his ISP would have to support manual ip configuration through his modem) and make sure they are never turned on at the same time.

I have done this before and it does work.

If you want both devices connected at the same time to the same connection with only 1 ip address from his ISP, then he needs to have a router to connect his internal network (pc + playstation) to the external network (internet).

I do not want to get into a detailed discussion about networking, I just wanted to provide a quick answer about getting a router that did not have acsecc rules.

 

[amnotanoobie]

if he manually configured his PC and his playstation to the same IP address from his ISP

That could definitely work. Though chair's would be flying if the brother/sister or anyone else for that matter, suddenly turns on the PC and the guy was already winning on an MMORPG on his/her PS3. :lol:

 

[flasher702]

Routers, by definition, filter. It's what they do. It's why they are routers and not switches. You can set up your router to route everything (DMZ) or just specific things (port forwarding) through to a specific port or IP address though.

You probably need a router for your setup and you probably also want it to have an integrated DHCP server. Just set up the port forwarding.

 

[Linenoise]

You -really- dont want to run a PC without the NAT stuff in place that the routers provide. Firewalls are great, but it's nice having that extra layer of protection. With firewall software, it's still your PC that's talking to the outside world. With the router, the traffic doesn't make it that far. If your router (or firewall software) supports it, just look how many port scans are going on all the time.

Depending on how your ISP works, some device on the network needs to terminate the PPPOE/whatever session. Some DSL modems can be configured to do that, not sure about cable modems, but typically the home router does that. Some ISPs provide software that can as well (SBC did awhile back), but that software sucks.. and your PS3 wouldn't be able to do it. So just plugging in a cheap ethernet switch may not even be an option.

 

[4745454b]

I wonder why these people confuse layer 1-2 devices with other layer stuff
layer 1 and 2 are MAC based, thats NO WAY ROUTING..
switches are MAC based...
thus NO ROUTING

routing = tcp/ip stuff...

I'm guessing because half the people who answered this thread don't even know what a 5/7layer OSI model means. This question was answered in the first few post, now its up to two pages because someone is to lazy to put an IP on a DMZ list or forward the correct ports if possible. (some games can't be properly forwarded with some routers.) Oh well, let him stumble around in the cloak of shadows for not listening...

 

[aziraphale]

Oh wise person with encrypted name. Enlighten us please. :?

 

[dietzjack]

I'm guessing because half the people who answered this thread don't even know what a 5/7layer OSI model means.

Wikipedia has a good series of articles on the OSI model. Anyone interested should check it out.

That said: The 1st OSI layer doesn't matter (It has nothing to do with the OP's question). Layers 4 thru 7 of the model don't matter (It has nothing to do w/ OP's question). Why do I need to know about OSI layers?

 

[Ravage777]

Thank you everybody,that just about covers it.I've learned so much.I will try a router purchase again.It's just after so many times purchasing routers and neither the tech support people or the game sites can help me configure it i got fed up.(both tried and failed{the guy in India didn't have a clue,like he was reading the same manual i got or something})
That information about the cables was very important because the guy at Radio Shack told me they are faster,he just didnt say if your moving a gigabyte or more though it's faster.
It's kinda sad because i was one of his best cat cable customers.On a good note though now i got a brand new pile of cat5 cables that i know now are still totally good.And all this time i thought all those companys that keep giving me cat5 cables for free were cheapskates not giving me at least cat6 like i was buying.
My modem even though i'm running 3mgs has only one connection and i asked the phone company if i could buy a modem with more than one connection but they said no and only they're modem will work so dont buy one at a store.So that option is out.
I'm going to try one last time to buy a router but i am still going to look for one with an on/off switch and one that doesnt have NAT since i'm positive it still blocks some kind of ports hardware wise because it's built in and that's why i had to put my Netgear in a pile with the rest of them.
It was blocking Gamespy ports and after trying to figure it out i was told its the NAT doing it and i have no choice but to get a better one.Thats how i got my Linksys and even though it supposedly doesnt have NAT it is still blocking some of my ports.And then there's the others but this is getting to long so thats all for now.
I will try a router though but i am leaning more towards a switch if its not that expensive.I'll have to research it a bit more.I just really only want something that has more than one plug that my modem can hook into that as long as i'm only using one plug at a time actively i'll be fine.
All this advice is AWSOME! and it will help me greatly in directing my research because until this thread i had never heard of a "switch" or an "hub".
Seriously,Thank You everybody. 😀


Sincerely
Ravage777

 

[dietzjack]

You can set up your router to route everything (DMZ)

How do you do this? I am using DD-WRT v23 SP2. When I go to the DMZ page it will only let me put one device in the DMZ.

 

[4745454b]

Then either switch them as needed, or do what was mentioned in post 7.

# | Source IP | Destination IP | Protocol | Action
1 | Any IP | Any IP | All | Allow