When
you think about routers and communications devices, big names
like Cisco, Bay Networks and 3Com probably come to mind. But
there is a small company that makes quality equipment that
shouldn't be overlooked.
Netopia, Inc. is focused primarily on equipment for small
and medium size businesses. We have been using a Netopia R2020
Dual Analog Router at one of our remote offices for a while
now. It combines two 56k modems to offer a low-cost way to
increase bandwidth for small offices. Now Netopia has announced
a new product, the R910
Broadband Security Router.
The
move to the faster speeds of broadband services like DSL and
cable have also brought new security concerns. With dialup
services, each time you log on, your PC is assigned a different
IP address (dynamic IP address). This gives a measure of protection
against security breaches because the hacker would have to
determine your IP address everytime you logged on. Typically
hackers don't bother with dialup users. However,the "always
on" feature of cable and DSL increases the likelihood
of security compromises. Your PC is assigned a static IP address
(doesn't change). Once your address is discovered, a hacker
can begin exploiting your defenses. If you are a residential
user, a software firewall is normally sufficient. Products
like BlackICE Defender, Zone Alarm or Norton's Personal Firewall
are good choices. However, business users may want the additional
protection of a hardware solution. Netopia'a
new R910 Broadband Security Router is a cost effective Ethernet
Router that integrates IPSec, VPN and Firewall capabilities
in a device that sells for under $300.
The
R910 is an Ethernet router that provides secure firewall and
VPN capabilities to customers with DSL or cable modem connections.
It includes advanced, business-class features not usually
available, including a one-click firewall and secure Virtual
Private Networking (VPN) client and server.
The R910 contains a 10BaseT Ethernet input interface to connect
to either a DSL or Cable modem. It has four Ethernet output
ports for interconnecting with computers, printers and other
hubs. The built-in firewall and NAT can be flexibly configured
to allow access to LAN-based servers from the Internet or
restrict individuals on the LAN from access to the Internet
(a good selling point for some businesses). The R910's VPN
functions include the convenience of a PPTP client and server
for interoperability with Microsoft NT servers and Dial Up
Networking, as well as the sophistication of IPSec and 56-bit
DES encryption.
For ease of configuration, the R910 functions as a Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client, server or relay
agent, and supports the Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet
(PPPoE) often used by service providers in delivering Internet
access over ADSL or Cable connections.
It
appears that the configuration of the device will be relatively
straight forward. The R910 uses the same Netopia routing engine
as the rest of the Netopia R-series. It should benefit from
the same sophisticated management utilities ISPs and DSL service
providers have use to deliver business-class service to their
customers. Password-protected management security accessible
over Telnet, SNMP or a local console connection provides access
to all management functions, including sophisticated management
utilities such as Trace Route, remote Telnet client and syslog
client.
For
small and medium sized businesses, the R910 has a lot to offer...for
under $300.
