I've discussed Linksys routers on UnrealAdmin in several forums, so you might try doing a search on posts with
"Linksys" in them to see those discussions.
The "NAT" bug you are aware of is in
UT2K3, not UT. I know of several UT servers using Linksys firewalls sucessfully.
The setup is actually easier than most people think. There are several variations of configuration that will "WORK", depending on what OS your server is using, and what kind of protection you want out of the firewall.
For many people, the firewall is not there for security as much as it is a way to allow multiple computers to share a single internet connection.
Others, use the features of the firewalls to "protect" the private networks from malicious internet traffic.
Some Do's and Don'ts... (My opinions... of course)
[list:cdaebbc99b]1) Do not place a server (or any other PC) in a DMZ if you care about security at all.
2) Disable UPnP (
Universal
Plug a
nd
Play) features on all firewalls. Also, strongly consider disabling UPnP in Windows XP. See
www.grc.com for more on this.
3) Test the bandwidth of your internet connection before deciding to host a server. Then use this information to select a sensible Firewall, based on your performance needs.[/list:u:cdaebbc99b]
A few general observations about some Linksys Products:
BEFSR41[list:cdaebbc99b]This is the original Linksys firewall product. It has been offered since 2000 and has the most firmware versions available for it. It has been under continuous development since release. All firmware upgrades have been free so far. As a result, this is probably the most consistant and reliable Firewall Linksys offers. It is the most often used Linksys firewall for UT servers that I know of.[/list:u:cdaebbc99b]
BEFSX41
[list:cdaebbc99b]This is a newer more updated version of the BEFSR41. It has a faster 100 MegaBit WAN port (the BEFSR41 has a 10MegaBit WAN) and additional features like VPN endpoint capability, among other things. It has more flash memory capacity than the BEFSR41 too, so it can continue to be enhanced by Linksys where the BEFSR41 is showing signs of becoming somewhat "Crowded". It may be that the BEFSR41 is reaching the end of it's lifecycle as an enhanceable product. The downside of the BEFSX41 is that it's firmware is mostly new, and it gives the appearance of being a little rough around the edges yet. If Linksys continues to maintain it, as they did the BEFSR41, then I'm sure it will become the more desireable of the two.[/list:u:cdaebbc99b]
BEFVP41
[list:cdaebbc99b]This device is overkill for most UT needs, but I have tested it so I'll give the results. It was
completely adequate to serve the game thru. It showed signs of working slightly better then the BEFSR41 and being more mature, firmware wise, than the BEFSX41 is at this point. It can accomodate many more simultaneous VPNs than any other Linksys offering, and was significantly more efficient than the BEFSR41. However, these differences are not enough, in my opinion, to reccommend it over the others. It has a 10 MegaBit WAN port. Please note that I was AMAZED that it was possible to play UT over a VPN connection on this device,
without any detectable performance degredation despite the encryption overhead.[/list:u:cdaebbc99b]
NR041
[list:cdaebbc99b]This is marketed under the brand name
NetworkEverywhere, but it is manufactured by Linksys. It seems to be a very cost reduced version of the BEFSX41, and has much more limited features. I have not used it to serve the game much, but it seems at least as capable as a BEFSR41 in performance and has a 100 MegaBit WAN port like the BEFSX41. It's metal package is more rugged than the Linksys brand ones, and may be less attractive to some. I can't fault this product technically, but it does feel more like a Chevy than a Ferrari.[/list:u:cdaebbc99b]
I won't review other manufacturers here, since the discussion only asked about Linksys products. I have no direct experience with the Linksys "Wireless" line, so I'll leave that to some one else.
Hope this hasn't been too boring.