The RT314 has a number of features that network-savvy users will appreciate.  It supports the RIP-1, RIP-2M, and RIP-2B routing protocols and you can set the unit to send only, receive only or do both with its routing information.  You can also set up to 8 static routes and set IGMP-V1 or V2 Multicast routing.  These features make it easy to incorporate the RT314 into larger networks with multiple routers.

NOTE: Opening holes in your firewall can compromise your LAN's security if done incorrectly.

You can open holes in the RT314's firewall so that servers on your LAN can be accessed from the Internet, but you are limited to 12 port-number-to-LAN IP mappings.  You can't specify TCP or UDP protocol, and you can't map port ranges, either.  One of the twelve mappings is dedicated to the Default Server mapping.  This is similar to the DMZ Host, or Exposed Computer feature on other routers.  Any inbound service request that doesn't have a defined IP address to handle it will be sent to the Default Server.  Another mapping is dedicated to Port 1026 "RR Reserved", so this leaves ten single port mappings for users to set.

Update 6/11/01 V3.25 firmware adds 10 sets of port range forwarding.

Filtering is very flexible, but the hardest to use feature of the RT314, and the 3.20 firmware hasn't improved this.  Filters allow you to block or pass data that matches specific criteria from entering or leaving your LAN.  Netgear has provided powerful filtering capability, but unfortunately, you need to configure it at a level that requires more understanding of networking protocols than most users will have.  The RT314 comes by default with filters enabled that block Telnet, FTP, and HTTP from the WAN side and keep Net BIOS (MS File and Print sharing) traffic from being accessed from the WAN.

Update 6/11/01 V3.25 firmware removes these filters.

Network Administrators will find a complete set of "Maintenance" features, all accessible via Telnet.  System status can be monitored, the unit can be reset, and error logs can be examined, among other features.  If you have a system that supports the UNIX syslog feature, the RT314 will even log activity to it.  (Go here for information on obtaining Windows and MacOs syslog clients.)  You also have the previously mentioned command line interface in case you get bored!

The router contains a Dynamic DNS client that can be used with DYNDNS.ORG.  (This feature is part of the 3.20 firmware, so is also available on the RT311.)  You'll need to register for an account in order to use this feature, which can be useful if you are hosting servers.  (For more about Dynamic DNS, read this page.)  Note that the RT314 can be used with other Dynamic DNS services, but you'll need to run client software on a LAN-side computer.

The RT314 will allow PPTP clients on the LAN side to access PPTP servers on the Internet.  You can also set the unit to allow a PPTP server on your LAN to be accessed from the Internet (go here if you need help with this).

IPsec client passthru support has been added w/ 3.20 firmware, with no special configuration or port forwarding required.

I knew it would happen eventually, but the RT314 did it!  It exceeded the ability of my throughput test setup.  After the smoke from burning CAT5 cables cleared, I was able to record the following results:

All numbers are in Mbits per second (Mbps).
(Details of how we tested can be found here.) 

I'm sure some helpful readers with faster setups will help me out and post their measurements via Review Opinions. 

Of course, no router is perfect...yet!  So here's what the 314 doesn't do:

• filter content

• control user access by time period, password, or MAC address

• act as a VPN endpoint.

Netgear has won a lot of supporters (and former Linksys owners) by having the RT311 be a solid performer and aggressively slugging it out in the recent router price wars.  It looks like the RT314 will continue the tradition and be a very popular router, especially given its lack of data corruption problems, reliable PPPoE operation, 4 port 10/100 switch, and blazing speed!

If Netgear could just beef up the web administration features, add triggered port range mapping (go check out the Asante, guys), and continue to price aggressively, they could really do some damage to the competition!