Netgear RP614 or firewire connection?

If not the Netgear, then one of them many other DSl/Cable routers with built-in firewalls. I would not let any computer of mine sit directly connected to the Internet at any time.

Get the router and use its built in NAT services to hide your computers local IP's from prying eyes, and it's built-in firewall to hide all of the network ports from anyone wanting to attempt to connect to your LAN.

Other DSL/Cable routers to consider are those from:
Netgear
Dlink
Linksys
Belkin
Zyxel
and others.

I particularly like the Zyxel P334, P334WT, for home consumer router. and the Zywall services of Internet Security appliances for small business use. But any of them from the list above should work well for consumer home applications

Tom N.

I think the Netgear is a good router. I have a few Netgear switches here and have been happy with how they work. I mentioned the other manufacturers just in case you or anyone else was also looking.

As to the p334, I tend to mention it for home use because it is usually one of the least expensive routers available that also includes stateful packet inspection as part of the firewall, as well as IPSec VPN support and a very good NAT system that support various NAT implementations including one to one, many to one, many to many and other multi-nat configurations, which can very handy if you have multiple global IP's and/or will be using servers in your home.

So I guess I think it is just a good bargain at its price point.

However, the Netgear is also a fine router.

Tom N.

It's not a matter of the firewall in OS X or any OS for that matter being good enough, it's a matter of where is the better location for the firewall. At the Network source, before anything can get into your home network and computers, or at your computers.

To me the better location is at the Internet source, to separate your local LAN from the Internet and ensure there is no access between them, except via the firewall and NAT. I would even setup a router with a good firewall for a LAN that had only a single computer on it and nothing else.

Tom N.

Looks like a good router. I haven't used one myself, but the specs and manual look to have all the needed info. And Dlink even lists the 604 as Mac compatible... though just about any router that has a web based configuration system will be Mac compatible. But by stating it, they should have support services if you ever need it.

Tom N.

No, just use a regular Ethernet patch cable. Your Mac's built-in Ethernet port will automatically configure itself for the required type of cabling (straight through or crossover).

Tom N.