Quote Originally Posted by user0182
obviously, i have read this article. what i really need is to set up a LAN, where i can play with these things.
No need, install VMWare server. Install one or two basic bsd/linux VMs in it and you've got enough to play with..


but, i was wondering about things like; if i were to write a client server application where the client program sent data to the server on a certain client port then the server read that data and responded to a different client port, and the client machine was sitting behind a router using NAPT Overloading, am i right in assuming that this would not work and confuse NAPT? thus, any server that tries to send a response to a different port than the port that the request was sent from would fail where NAPT is involved? as a router using NAPT, maps client "IP Address/Port combinations" to it's own router ports.
Look into how an active FTP works if you're behind NAT (or better why it doesn't work).

btw - i also wanted to ask what networking hardware you guys consider to be the best, Linksys, Belkin, Netgear, D-Link etc.
Cisco.. But then.. We have to manage about 10.000+ routers and switches. That's a whole different ballgame compared to a run-of-the-mill home setup