SnapGear 1.7.8 manual Introduction

1. Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of your SnapGear appliance’s features and capabilities, and explains how to install and configure your SnapGear appliance.

The SnapGear appliance enables small to medium-sized businesses to securely interconnect computers on your office network to the Internet. The SnapGear appliance has all the features a business needs to take full advantage of the Internet. Regardless of whether you are connecting to the Internet for the first time or looking for a cost-effective and safe VPN solution, the SnapGear appliance will meet your needs.

The SnapGear appliance simply and securely interconnects your network to the Internet using a robust embedded firewall. Shielded behind a NAT gateway, your office computers are protected from outside threats. The SnapGear appliance filters and checks data packets to prevent unauthorized Internet applications accessing your network.

The SnapGear appliance provides your network with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) server. A VPN enables remote workers or branch offices to securely access your company network to send and receive data at a very low cost. With the SnapGear appliance, you can remotely access your office network securely using the Internet. The SnapGear appliance can also connect to external VPNs as a client.

Using your SnapGear appliance, everyone on your office LAN can access the Internet using a single connection. Your entire network can log on to the Internet using only one ISP account through one analog modem, DSL or ISDN line. This eliminates separate connections and ISP charges for each individual user. Using a dial-in modem connected to your SnapGear appliance, your remote staff can also securely access your office network using direct-dial.

This manual describes how to take advantage of the features of your SnapGear appliance, including setting up an Internet connection, a secure firewall and a VPN. It also describes how to set up the SnapGear appliance on your existing or new network using the web configuration interface.

Installing your SnapGear appliance into a well-planned network is quick and easy. Although network planning and design is outside the scope of this manual, please take the time to plan your network prior to installing your SnapGear appliance.

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Introduction