In article <emeqm7$oj3$1@reader2.panix.com>, on Thu, 21 Dec 2006
20:26:47 +0000 (UTC), Mike S. wrote:

>
>
> Amateur though I am, I've become the default manager for internet access
> in our large home. The hardware consists of a cable modem and older model
> WRT54G with updated firmware.
[snip]
> From what I gather, true hardware firewall appliances allow the use of
> rules that can limit the number of connections and the bandwidth allotted
> to each client IP address. This, to me, seems very attractive (although
> more expensive) and I was wondering if interposing a firewall between the
> cable modem and the router (or discarding the modem and using the firewall
> with an access point) would achieve the desired end. Any specific
> suggestions?

Since you have a WRT54G, the first thing I would try (assuming you've
ruled out beatings and electro-shock), is to flash the *free* DD-WRT
third party firmware onto your WRT54G. DD-WRT has a slew of Quality of
Service settings, including the ability to limit bandwidth by MAC
address, which sounds right up your alley.

The main DD-WRT wiki page is at:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

The QoS settings are described here:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/QoS

and you can download DD-WRT from:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads.php


I use DD-WRT myself, and recommend it highly. And, you can't beat the
price!

Good luck!

--
Seth Goodman