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June 7, 1999

WebRamp Eases Connectivity Woes

Ethernet router and security device works with local connectivity options--even DSL

By Alyson Behr

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he increasing bandwidth-per-buck ratio of broadband Internet-access services, such as cable modems, digital subscriber line, and other persistent connection services, can considerably lower the cost of setting up remote users. But establishing and maintaining user Internet access and security for a highly distributed company can be a challenge--remote sites rarely have the IT talent to manage TCP/IP networks (let alone something like a firewall or proxy server) for themselves, and the cost of some services is prohibitive.

What small satellite offices need is a connectivity appliance--something that can provide security, ease client configuration, and help manage network addresses, while being open enough to work with whatever local connectivity options are available. Sounds hard to achieve, right?

Well, not necessarily. Ramp Networks Inc.'s WebRamp 700s is an Ethernet router and Internet security device that works with other routers, xDSL, and cable modems. The 700s sits between a LAN router, switch, or hub, and the xDSL or cable modem, and will support up to 100 computers.

The WebRamp's construction is simple. There are two Ethernet ports--one for the LAN and one for the WAN. Plug the LAN side into a network hub or switch, and connect the WAN side to the router, cable modem, or whatever device connects the LAN to the Internet or other WAN (either directly with a provided crossover cable or through an Ethernet hub).

Like other Ramp Networks products, the WebRamp 700s' administration console uses the Web. You can configure all the network settings by using the Web browser of an administrative console (any system with a Java-capable browser on the LAN side) to go to WebRamp's preconfigured default IP address.

There are three ways to configure network-configuration modes. You can use Standard, Network Address Translation-enabled, or NAT with DHCP client. Because I was migrating from ISDN and had been using a WebRamp Entre ISDN router,

I chose NAT-enabled and assigned the WebRamp 700s the same IP address on our LAN that the Entre had been assigned. This sped up the process of bringing DSL to the LAN since the other workstations were already configured using this IP address as a gateway. I configured the LAN with DSL in a little more than 15 minutes.

The product's security features include a firewall that uses stateful packet inspection. This technology makes security decisions based on where an Internet session originates. Data can enter the LAN from the Internet only if a LAN user originates the session. It also comes preconfigured to detect hacker attacks, such as IP spoofing. A virtual private network upgrade option is also available. In addition, Ramp Networks provides a free 30-day trial subscription to Microsystem's CyberNot content-filter list. This product lets the administrator select categories of content to block and updates the category lists on a weekly basis.

Ramp Networks offers three license options: five-, 25-, or 100-user licenses. The software has a 90-day warranty, and the hardware has a one-year warranty.

Alyson Behr is an InternetWeek contributing editor and the founder of Behr Communications, a Los Angeles Web development company. She can be reached at alyson@behrcomm.com.