The reason I want the router is so that everything is consistent at every client. As I still need a modem it makes sense to use the newer vdsl2 modems which are integrated with the routers. for this particular client I think that I need to have modem and router separate as its FTTP not FTTC. But the other clients are all FTTC so I have one modem/router device and I think that is preferable to configuring the linux box for vdsl.