Which router/switch/device?

Conrad11 · 26 Jun 2009 at 19:20

Hi there,

I am pretty sure a router is the only thing that I can use to get what I want. Internet will be from an ethernet cable from another router.

Must haves:
- USB Port for adding USB Pen drive which can be accessed by network.
- Ability to put custom firmware on the device so I can download (on the router) from rapidshare (i have a premium account) straight to the pen drive that is plugged in the router/switch/device so I don't have to have a PC switched on.

Bonus features:
- Decent Wireless-n ability.
- Gigabit ethernet.

Does such a thing exist? Can anybody recommend one to me?

Thanks.

Dist · 26 Jun 2009 at 21:05

A router won't be able to do them things. What you are after is a NAS. They are basicaly a PC, but designed specificaly for things such as file sharing, streaming media, downloading files (some even can manage to automaticaly download torrents and run them). All of this is usualy much lower power consumption the a full PC.

I can't recommend one as i dont use them myself as my PC is on 24/7. But you can get some quite advaned NAS boxes these days which are feature rich and provide everything you need.

LordSplodge · 26 Jun 2009 at 21:13

If you have an old PC may I point you in the direction of either OpenFiler or FreeNAS. I use FreeNAS and it acts as both a Torrent downloader and an iTunes server.

Needs a PC though!

Conrad11 · 27 Jun 2009 at 10:20

Was hoping for something fanless and static (non-moving) really and a NAS is likely to have a fan in it.