SMC Networks SMCWBR11S-N manual Compatible with all popular Internet applications

CHAPTER 1 Introduction

Description of Capabilities

◆Easy setup and management through an easy-to-use web browser interface on any operating system that supports TCP/IP.

◆Compatible with all popular Internet applications.

APPLICATIONS Many advanced networking features are provided by the Mini Broadband Router:

◆Wired LAN — The Mini Broadband Router provides connectivity to wired Ethernet devices, making it easy to create a network in small offices or homes.

◆Internet Access — This device supports Internet access through a WAN connection. Since many DSL providers use PPPoE, PPTP, or L2TP to establish communications with end users, the Mini Broadband Router includes built-in clients for these protocols, eliminating the need to install these services on your computer.

◆Shared IP Address — The Mini Broadband Router provides Internet access for up to 253 users using a single shared IP address account.

◆Virtual Server — If you have a fixed IP address, you can set the Mini Broadband Router to act as a virtual host for network address translation. Remote users access various services at your site using a static IP address. Then, depending on the requested service (or port number), the Mini Broadband Router can route the request to the appropriate server (at another internal IP address). This secures your network from direct attack by hackers, and provides more flexible management by allowing you to change internal IP addresses without affecting outside access to your network.

◆DMZ Host Support — Allows a networked computer to be fully exposed to the Internet. This function is used when NAT and firewall security prevent an Internet application from functioning correctly.

◆Security — The Mini Broadband Router supports security features that deny Internet access to specified users, or filter all requests for specific services. WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and MAC filtering provide security over the wireless network.

◆Virtual Private Network (VPN) Passthrough — The Mini Broadband Router supports the passthrough of three of the most commonly used VPN protocols – IPsec, PPTP, and L2TP. These protocols allow remote users to establish a secure connection to another network. If your service provider supports VPNs, then these protocols can be used to create an authenticated and encrypted tunnel for passing secure data over the Internet (that is, a traditionally shared data network). The VPN-passthrough protocols supported by the Barricade are briefly described below.

■IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) — Encrypts and authenticates entire IP packets and encapsulates them into new IP packets for secure communications between networks.

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