Introducing The Officeconnect Secure Router; Officeconnect Secure Router - 3Com OfficeConnect User Manual

I
NTRODUCING THE
Welcome to the world of networking with 3Com
modern business environment, communication and sharing
information is crucial. Computer networks have proved to be one
of the fastest modes of communication but, until recently, only
large businesses could afford the networking advantage. The
®
OfficeConnect product range from 3Com has changed all this,
bringing networks to the small office.
The products that compose the OfficeConnect line give you, the
small office user, the same power, flexibility, and protection that
has been available only to large corporations. Now, you can
network the computers in your office, connect them all to a
single Internet outlet, and harness the combined power of all of
your computers.

OfficeConnect Secure Router

The OfficeConnect Secure Router is designed to provide a
cost-effective means of sharing a single broadband Internet
connection amongst several computers.
The Router also increases your network security by acting as a
firewall, preventing unauthorised external access to your
network, and by creating Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) —
encrypted links to other private networks.
The example in Figure 1
Internet without a Router. One computer is connected to the
Internet using a Cable or DSL modem. This computer must
always be powered on for the other computers on the network
to access the Internet.
O C
FFICE ONNECT
®
. In the
shows a network connected to the
S R
ECURE OUTER
Figure 1 Example Network Without a Secure Router
Cable/DSL
Modem
9
Internet
OfficeConnect
Switch