Re: Network Firewall Advice

In article <1132595647.231745.132840@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
 <jgoodale@gmail.com> wrote:
>I have two servers that I want to place in a collocated facility but I
>need to select a device (a managed switch I believe) to place in front
>of the servers to protect them from hacking attempts

Very few "managed switch" will "protect from hacking attempts"

>and route the
>appropriate traffic to the right machines based on IP and port.

Very few "managed switch" can do Network Address Translation (NAT).
Some will do Policy Based Routing, but not until you are into the
"Layer 3" or "Multilayer" switch range.

>I only need 4 Lan ports and 1 wan port.

>This device would also need to be very stable and have good
>connectivity on the local network (gigabit) since the servers transfer
>a lot of data amongst each other.

> Cost is also another factor. My spending range for this device should
> not exceed $400.00.

You are going to have a hard time finding a plain managed Layer 2
gigabit switch for $US400. With the other features you want, I think
your only option in that price range would be to build your own from
donated parts and could your time in programming and testing it
as being "free".

-- 
  If you lie to the compiler, it will get its revenge. -- Henry Spencer