In article <MPG.1ff4c0efbeced7eb989b9a@newsgroups.comcast.net >,
Seth Goodman <seth_news@yahoo.com> wrote:
>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?

[woops ... I meant discarding the ROUTER]

>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

Thanks. The WRT54G does have some QOS facility in the recent firmware but
the DD-WRT seems to be more comprehensive. Since everything is on DHCP
right now, I suppose the priorities for the two problem users could be
assigned based on MAC address, as the IP's are always changing.

Is the DD-WRT flash a one-way deal - i.e. is it possible to go back to
Linksys factory F/W afterward?