D-Link High Speed Home Network

Making Networking Experts of Us All

by Josh Walrath

            The advent of households with multiple computers, high speed internet, and a focus on multiplayer games and file sharing have transformed the average home into a relatively complex networking environment.  This is a market that is rapidly growing, and companies such as D-Link see this as their bread and butter for the next several years.  To adequately address this market, D-Link has put together a series of products to address nearly every possible aspect of home networking.  This series essentially comprises their “High Speed Home Network”.

All of the products in their glory.  Quite a handful of products to get all at once, but well worth it for someone hoping to build a high speed home network.

            Wireless, Gigabit Ethernet, firewall, and network bridging can essentially sum up this selection.  D-Link sent reviewers a whole box full of products for this test, and while it may have behooved them to send each product individually to more adequately test it, it does give reviewers a chance to see the entire setup in action and comment on its overall functionality without dragging the review process out for months on end.  The heavy box did eventually arrive on my doorstep, and I quickly implemented many of these products onto my working network to see how it will handle the load.

This is the example D-Link gave of how to setup the High Speed Home Network.

            Let’s take a quick look at the different components used for this review.

 DI-624

            This product is the foundation of the network, as it handles all firewall and routing functions, as well as acting as the wireless base unit and DHCP server.  This is a very full featured firewall that will more than adequately address the needs of a home or small business network.  It also has a four port switch integrated into the design, as well as the wireless functionality.  If a user only has one or two computers, this product might very well address all of their needs.

The initial screen that a user will get to once they log into the DI-624.  Running the wizard will allow even novice users to set up their DI-624 with ease.

            The user interface is very well laid out as compared to earlier D-Link products.  Even novices in networking can quickly get their network up and running if they have a small amount of knowledge on how a network works.  The DI-624 features DHCP, which assigns IP addresses dynamically, which makes setting up a network for those who have no idea how IP addresses work a very simple affair.  All the user needs to do is plug their Windows XP Pro or Home computer up to the router, turn it on, and they will quickly be up and running.  Once the user actually logs into the DI-624, they are greeted with an initial screen and Wizard button that will help them set up their DI-624 for the first time.  Many of the initial, and important, settings are instituted through this wizard, and it is highly recommended that the first time user go through this and be sure to write down the settings!

Here is an example of all the functions that the DI-624 brings to the table.  While it may not be a Cisco firewall, it does have many useful features for the advanced user.

Next: More DI-624

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