More than I wanted to know.

First an update on my computer search.
          I ordered a computer yesterday.  I went with the Dell Optiplex that I linked to in my last post.  It shipped yesterday. As far as its ability to run a Linux System, I am still not quite sure.  I found very little information on the web suggesting that Linux would be a problem.  The only person I heard this from was the tech guy at a local used PC store.  He said the main problem was with the drivers Dell uses being hard to find.  I guess I will find out soon enough.

Now it is on to the router.  This has been a topic of confusion, frustration and enlightenment for me.

Confusion

The most confusing part of this process has been choosing a router than can run the dd-wrt platform.  I did find some resources to help with this.

• Here is a list of known incompatible routers which for various reasons cannot run dd-wrt
• Here is a list of supported devices .  The problem with this list is that many of the websites which sell routers give you limited information as far as the model number goes.  For instance there are about 8 different versions of the router I am looking at which is the D-link DIR 615. There is the c1, c2 d1, e3, .... all of which are listed under the supported devices page.  BUT WAIT, the D-link 615 b is incompatible and attempting to load dd-wrt bricks it (i think that is geek slang for making it a paper weight) according to the incompatible router paged linked earlier.   Most sites only tell the buyer that it is a D-link DIR 615.  The moral,  be careful before you purchase the router for this class. Here is one that I believe will work from best buy 

Linky

Can it get anymore confusing than that.

Update- here is another site with a searchable database to confirm your router support.

FRUSTRATION!

My internet service provider is AT&T.  We have a small wireless home network and so far (about 3 years) I have been pleased.  We have a modem and router "combo" made by 2wire.  In order to connect a router, I am going to have to try and disable the router portion of my 2wire combo.  If this does not work, then my household could be rendered "webless" for an undetermined time and could cost us money to get it repaired.  That means no more paying bills online, no more e-mail access from home, no more attending my online classes from my private network and no more Netflix.  Guess its time to man up and giterdone but still if anyone out there has advise, it would be appreciated.

Enlightened

Perhaps this section should really be called encouraged. During my research into buying the computer and searching for a router I have been amazed at the effort people put into open source technology.  It is pretty impressive the work done to these things, mostly for free.  I hope throughout this class I can contribute to the community and to my fellow classmates.

Hopefully we can pull this off.