What is the best CISCO router for Home use?

Hi Jon,

While you're free to surf eBay for older 1700 series routers for example, what you'll want is an 800 series Cisco router. This is Cisco's newer ISR (Integrated Services Router) that is not only your best bet for a home use broadband access router, but will give you the VPN functionality you need, and you have wireless options as well. Check out the 851 for currently $399 list price or the 851W for $499 which has dual ethernet and wireless as well. Both models have a 4-port 10/100 switch and an SPI firewall and IPsec VPN. You also have 871 and 871W options for a little more. Check out the link below to compare models based on your needs, this also has links to all the data sheets. Also, to find a Cisco partner/reseller to buy one in your area, go here: http://tools.cisco.com/WWChannels/LOCATR/jsp/partn...

Cisco Routers For Home

I'm trying to talk myself into buying a little Cisco 871W. It's cute, it's got almost the entire Cisco IOS, it also has a point and click setup to use if I'm feeling lazy (or want to set it up fast, and play with it later.) The wireless version's $850 at list price, probably a lot less if you shop. My boss has one of the older 830s. I've also considered the slightly smaller 850s.

If you'd like the full IOS, or have an internet connection with 1.5Mbps or more, you'd probably want the 1841, but they're a grand or two. 1700s are an older version of 1800s and are still recent enough for support, accessories, ect, 1600s are the version before that. If you're trying to stay cheap, check for refurbs. If you find a refurbished unit from one of the Cisco certified resellers, it's got the same warranty as new, and the IOS is yours too.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/ordering/or13/order_cus...

(If you buy it on ebay, you're probably on your own for support, and probably won't own the IOS. If it's older, download all the documentation from Cisco.com that's available. Sometimes ebay's more expensive than the big online resellers, particularly on newer equipment.)

Get a 800 or a 900 seires Small Office Home Office (SOHO) router. It the same size as a linksys router but it has a full Cisco ISO. And the same ports. You still have to telnet in to program it, but it is cheep and effecent.

Linksys Router would be the easiest.. An actual cisco router for 2 ports seems like overkill.... You can pickup a 4 port linksys for like 75 bucks

btoblake is right - you're looking for an 800-series Cisco router. the 871 has VPN hardware assist and DMZ capabilities, plus 4 switch ports.

While all ios routers have firewall functionality.In the cisco asa platform you can get advanced network protection options. but they are comparitively expensive and will need additional license.

if you just need to practice configuration, go for gns3 and buy a linksys for home.

Linksys is made by Cisco. But I am thinking about that delicious turkey that I will chomp into on thursday. I might even eat some ham.

Just buy a linksys, (made by cisco) cheapest one they have is fine for home use

If you can find an old 1720 or 1600 series on Ebay that'd be your best bet.