Dec 27, 2001 : Linksys Releases New IPSec VPN Router

📅 December 27, 2001 - Linksys (linksys.com), a provider of broadband, wireless andnetworking hardware, today announced a new addition to its Instant Broadbandseries of routers, the EtherFast Cable/DSL VPN Router with 4-Port Switch(BEFVP41).

This new Virtual Private Networking router is built on the basic foundationof the popular EtherFast 4-Port Cable/DSL Router, but with addedfunctionality such as an embedded IPSec VPN, and triple DES encryption,authentication and more. This product is a result of the demand that sharingbroadband access and secure remote access has had in smaller workenvironments like homes, branch offices and field offices, the company says.
The inconvenience of present-day business practices, such as frequent airtravel and potentially insecure and slow dial-up connections for offsitework, has encouraged many professionals to telecommute or work from homeremotely using cable or DSL. Market Research firm Cahners In-Stat projectsthat by the end of 2001, there will be 11.5 million users in North Americaconnected to the Internet via cable or DSL. Since this growing number ofbroadband users are calling for heightened network security measures andminimal travel, businesses and home office workers are looking to findeffective ways to deploy end-to-end security between their geographicallyseparated networks.
Linksys' new BEFVP41 router uses VPN technology to establish securecommunications from one network to another. Since the device implements VPNusing widely accepted IPSec standards, an office using a BEFVP41 cansecurely communicate to a second office also equipped with a BEFVP41 or to amain office network running compatible IPSec products from third partiessuch as Cisco, Checkpoint, Nortel and Microsoft. The requirement to runIPSec at both ends of the communication path establishes a secure sessionthrough which users can safely exchange sensitive data. With up to 70independent VPN sessions supported by the BEFVP41, geographically separatedusers possess a level of network security comparable to that of enterpriseusers located at a single site.
Mike Wolf, director of enterprise and residential communications of Cahner'sIn-Stat said, "Linksys is addressing an important need that has beenrecognized with their success of routers in the home and SOHO market. As themarket embraces VPN technology for business applications, home and offsitenetworking will be redefined by the conveniences VPNs offer such as secureremote access from the home to business, or office to office networking thatuses broadband for their Internet access. Conducting more business remotelyis likely to increase productivity, decrease travel and open up informationto share amongst all employees globally."
The $179 VPN Router can be installed easily without IT expertise or VPNsoftware, which sometimes conflicts with PC or Internet setups. Since therouter uses a Web browser for setup, it can be remotely administered by mainoffice IT personnel who can troubleshoot and help with setup over theInternet.
Among the additional features to the router:
Shares a Cable or DSL connection for up to 253 users using one IPaddressDES/3DES encryption regularly generates new security keys usingInternet Key ExchangeNo VPN client software to install or maintainHandles up to 70 independent IPSec VPN sessions simultaneouslySupports PAP and CHAP (Password Authentication Protocol andChallenge Handshake Authentication Protocol)Authenticates the identities of all senders and recipients ofnetwork dataSupports PPTP and IPSec Pass ThruNAT security, forwarding, filtering (IP, URL and MAC), routing, DHCPServer, and remote administration