I think that even MS are realising that ICS is a bunch of ...

As for the hardware router - if you are into playing computers, it might be worthwhile picking up an old computer and setting it up as a gateway running Linux - this is exactly what I have at home.

The linux box becomes a gateway/firewall/server/NT Domain Controller (Samba)/Filestore/database/webserver/etc.

Linux is capable of doing this on ISDN, Modems and I believe even ADSL as well these days.

If you don't want to run X (Windows for UNIX) then you don't need a spanking fast system - I've run a router/firewall on a 386 in the past (and it added less than 10ms to my pings).

Currently mine is a 2xCelery system, but hey!

Paul.

Paul Haigh, Reg. 4120
(mk1) 6GB, Blue, 00254
(mk2) 12GB, Red, 00357