When looking for a dedicated router, get something that will run
OpenWRT. I am running OpenWRT Barrier Breaker on my router at home and
it works very well. The router hardware is limited enough that I would
not consider something like an email server on it, however OpenWRT may
well support it as it has a lot of packages and its own package manager
both command line and via the Web UI.
I've installed OpenWRt on hardware from Ubiquity, Asus, and Buffalo and
all have worked well. The Buffalo WXR-600DHP had DD-WRT on it from the
factory but there didn't seem to be an easy way to make it work as a
transparent bridge. With OpenWRT I installed the relayd package and
away I went. Their Wiki is pretty good although a bit tricky to
navigate, like most Wikis.
OpenWRT is Linux based with busybox and their own UCI configuration
system. The Web UI, LUCI, rivals anything I have seen from a
manufacturer.
Have fun!
- Nate
--
"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds. The pessimist fears this is true."
Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more:
http://www.n0nb.us