[hblug] modem/router set up

[Brett Wilkins]

Hey,

Currently I've got a Dynalink RTA 1335 ADSL 2+ modem/router for my 
broadband connection. mostly it's fine, but i can't say it goes without 
a few gripes...

If I want to run any bittorrent program, I have to forget about web 
surfing until  after I've closed down the bittorrent client AND 
restarted the modem/router. I seem to have to do this for two reasons: 
the modem/router takes almost forever to release a port unless it's 
rebooted, and until it's rebooted it won't let me surf again.

There are three set-up choices I see for myself: 1) run a server with a 
PCI ADSL modem and a few LAN cards. 2) get a new ADSL modem (well, not 
new.... trademe will be my friend) and have a server with a few LAN 
cards. 3) trademe ADSL modem + switch.

I prefer the 2nd choice because it essentially means I get to set up a 
new computer :P and see how cheaply I can do so in the process. It also 
allows me to use the server as DHCP, port forwarding etc and bridge the 
connections... although this will definitely me a new experience for me. 
Using smoothwall etc, I hope this should become a stable set-up.

Does anybody have some other ideas or perhaps some light to shed on 
these choices? Note that I intend at sometime to do some network 
gaming... Which reminds me of another problem... currently, my LAN gives 
a 200ms ping. not natural if I may say so myself.

Thanks,

Brett