Terminology

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What is a Firewall?

A firewall is protection between the Internet and your local network. It acts as the firewall in your car does, protecting the interior of the car from the engine. Your car's firewall has very small opening that allow desired connections from the engine into the cabin (gas pedal connection, etc), but if something happens to your engine, you are protected.

The firewall in the router is very similar. Only the connections that you allow are passed through the firewall. These connections normally originate from the local network, such as users web browsing, checking e-mail, downloading files, and playing games. However, you can allow incoming connections so that you can run programs like a web server.

What is NAT?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation. Another name for it is Connection Sharing. What does this mean? Your ISP provides you with a single network address to access the Internet with. However, you may have several machines on your local network that want to access the Internet at the same time. The router provides NAT functionality that converts your local network addresses to the single network address provided by your ISP. It keeps track of all these connections and makes sure that the correct information gets to the correct local machine.

Occasionally, there are certain programs that don't work well through NAT. Some games and other specialty applications have a bit of trouble. The router contains special functionality to handle the vast majority of these troublesome programs and games. NAT does cause problems when you want to run a server. See the DMZ section below.

What is a DMZ?

DMZ really stands for Demilitarized Zone. It is a way of separating part of your local network so that is more open to the Internet. Suppose that you want to run a web server, or a game server. Normal servers like these are blocked from working by the NAT functionality. The solution is to isolate the single local computer into a DMZ. This makes the single computer look like it is directly on the Internet, and others can access this machine.

6388-A2-GB20-00

February 2005

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Paradyne 6388 manual What is a Firewall?, What is NAT?, What is a DMZ?

6388 specifications

The Paradyne 6388 is a versatile high-speed broadband modem, primarily designed for the demanding needs of data transmission in various networking environments. Launched by Paradyne, a company known for its pioneering technology in digital communications, the 6388 modem exemplifies the capability to handle significant bandwidth while delivering dependable performance.

One of the main features of the Paradyne 6388 is its robust support for a wide range of transmission standards. It is compatible with both DSL and T-1 connections, making it an adaptable solution for different types of networks. This flexibility allows organizations to utilize the 6388 in a variety of scenarios, whether they are operating in rural areas with limited infrastructure or urban environments with established high-speed connectivity.

The modem's built-in technologies significantly enhance its performance and reliability. With integrated error correction and advanced modulation techniques, the 6388 ensures that data keeps flowing smoothly even under less-than-optimal conditions. This results in better performance, reduced latency, and improved overall user experience, particularly for applications that require consistent throughput, such as video conferencing or large data transfers.

Another noteworthy characteristic of the Paradyne 6388 is its ease of configuration and management. The device typically includes intuitive web-based management interfaces, allowing network administrators to set up, monitor, and maintain the modem with ease. Features such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) support further facilitate network management, enabling remote monitoring of device status and performance metrics.

The 6388 is also designed with security in mind. It incorporates advanced features such as encryption and authentication protocols to safeguard data transmission, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected from unauthorized access.

Power efficiency is another important aspect of the Paradyne 6388. The design focuses on minimizing energy consumption while still delivering maximum performance, making it an eco-friendly choice for organizations aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.

In summary, the Paradyne 6388 modem stands out due to its versatility, advanced features, and reliable performance. Its compatibility with multiple standards, integrated technologies for enhanced performance, user-friendly management tools, robust security features, and energy-efficient design make it a robust solution for various networking needs. Whether for business communications or industrial applications, the 6388 continues to serve as a valuable asset in the digital landscape.