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Compatibility Issues
Recently, we have observed some compatibility issues, particularly with network adapters. One case is the 3Com 905 series which won't work if "Byte Merge" or "CPU-to-PCI write combine buffer" are turned on in the mainboard BIOS. Some mainboards allow the manual settings of these parameters, some don't and the factory default can cause the card not to work. With the DI-714 we observed yet another strange occurrence of compatibility problem. With the EPoX 8KHA and the DLink DFE-530TX+, the DI-714 would not work properly. Strangely enough, the same DFE-530TX+ works without problem in a different board but this is not where it ends. Even with the EPoX 8KHA, same mentioned DFE-530TX+ works just fine with the DLink DSS 5+ (5 port) Switch and the DI-701 firewall. DLink has been informed of this glitch and most likely a firmware upgrade will be able to solve this issue.
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Conclusion
Home networking is still in its infancy and the main reasons are the lack of infrastructure. For a homeowner, running cables through the walls is a legitimate solution even if it can be relatively expensive. Others may want to use Home PNA, that is, existing phone lines to connect different PCs with each other. In either case, there has to be a certain amount of wiring in place. With a wireless / CAT5 solution and integrated firewall, the DLink DI-714 sort of combines the best of two worlds. Being able to accommodate up to 255 different PCs on either CAT5 or wireless basis, courtesy of the built-in NAT (Net-address-translation) offers enormous expandability and flexibility in terms of accommodating guests, hosting conferences or even overcoming the infrastructure of ancient buildings in a corporate environment.
Keep in mind, though, that, without entering any encryption keys, even if nobody actually uses wireless communication , the device is vulnerable to anyone using the same brand wireless adapter. In other words, immediately after installation of the DI-714, an encryption code should be set to avoid piggy back rides and access of the LAN through the backdoor.
All in all, the DI-714, in combination with the wireless adapters, is an excellent product that allows virtually hassle-free setup of a home-network without any drilling of holes or routing of cables. The latter can be the most important factor in rental units or residences where the home LAN expands over several floors.
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