Wireless network standard bearers on test

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When setting up wireless networks for small businesses and small office/home office (SoHo) customers, resellers have found it a challenge to create faster, safer solutions, namely in balancing convenience against speed and security.

Most wireless products have been based on the 802.11b (Wi-Fi) standard, which has a transmission rate of just 11Mbps (about one-tenth the speed of Fast Ethernet) and offers weak security via the Wired Equivalency Protocol (WEP).

While those limitations haven't slowed wireless deployments, they have created real concerns for resellers and their customers.

The good news is that wireless technology is evolving. The 802.11g and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) standards promise to clear the speed and security hurdles of 802.11b and WEP.

Wireless local area networks (Lans) based on 802.11g can transmit at a rate of up to 54Mbps, plus provide backward-compatibility to 802.11b components.

The five-fold increase in transmission rate should eradicate most speed concerns for those considering wireless networks.

nd on the security side, WPA brings significant changes to wireless data encryption by employing a temporal-based key, which practically prevents wireless eavesdropping.

Those considering 802.11g-based solutions have faced an obstacle until now because the 802.11g standard was available only as a draft implementation.

However, the standard was officially ratified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers last week.

CRN looked at three 802.11g routers that would be suitable candidates for small-business/SoHo wireless Lan implementations: the AirStation WBR-G54 from Buffalo Technology, the AirPlusXtremeG DI-624 from D-Link Systems and the Cable/DSL 54Mbps Wireless Router WGR614 from NetGear.

Buffalo AirStation WBR-G54

When it comes to wireless Lan networking, Buffalo's AirStation WBR-G54 comes across as the 'little train that could'. The unit is rich in features, easy to set up and includes a full compatibility guarantee.

The unit is due to be launched through the UK channel around the end of July or beginning of August.

The WBR-G54 offers all the bells and whistles needed for the SME and SoHo markets in a compact design.

The unit sports a four-port Fast Ethernet switch, an auto-sensing wide area network (Wan) connection and an external antenna port for an optional high-gain antenna. It also has an internal antenna, which should be suitable for most deployments.

Initial set-up of the WBR-G54 is wizard-driven and straightforward, and installers need only point a browser at the unit's default IP address to get started.

The installation wizard guides installers through basic set-up, ranging from broadband connectivity to internal Lan settings. Resellers can fine-tune other features via advanced menus.

As far as features go, the WBR-G54 offers a complete set. VARs will find a stateful packet inspection firewall that supports port-forwarding, de-militarised zone (DMZ) and intrusion-detection software.

Other key security features include media access control address filtering plus WEP, WPA and 802.1x support, which should meet the needs of even the most security-conscious ustomer.

CRN engineers performed throughput tests using NetIQ Chariot and two notebooks equipped with Buffalo's WLI-CB-G54 CardBus client cards.

Basic tests showed real-world performance of roughly 19Mbps: a three- to four-fold increase over real-world numbers seen on 802.11b solutions.

Installers should have no problems using the browser interface. Menus and advanced settings are presented in an expanding tree format, with concise titles that lend themselves to an organised interface. Context-sensitive help rounds out the package, making the unit easy to manage and troubleshoot.

Resellers looking to jump on the 802.11g bandwagon will be well served by Buffalo's stable of 802.11g-based products, which provide adequate speed and enhanced security.

The WBR-G54 lacks only Dynamic domain name system support and virtual private network (VPN) server capabilities that some SME and SoHo customers might desire.

D-Link AirPlusXtremeG DI-624

With the AirPlusXtremeG DI-624 available through D-Link's UK channel partners, the vendor offers some desirable options.

The DI-624 bundles a stateful packet-inspection firewall with 802.11g wireless Lan support and includes four 10/100 Ethernet ports, a Wan port and dual external antennas, which help the DI-624 outdistance other 802.11g units with internal antennas. The product can also be mounted vertically or horizontally.

The DI-624's integrated 10/100 Ethernet switch sports auto-sensing and auto-crossover RJ-45 ports, which eliminates the need for crossover cables and simplifies installation in environments with existing wired Ethernet equipment.

However, initial speed tests of the DI-624 with two 802.11g-based client systems using NetIQ, Chariot indicated less than optimal performance, with the router lagging some 40 per cent behind other 802.11g products.

To address the performance issue, CRN engineers installed the unit's latest firmware and changed some of its default 802.11g settings, such as switching to a short preamble and setting the transfer rate to 54Mbps.

The DI-624's real-world performance improved significantly, to roughly 23Mbps, making it one of the fastest 802.11g routers on the market.

Consequently, those deploying the DI-624 are advised to upgrade to the unit's latest firmware and consider customising the 802.11g radio settings.

A word of caution: changing wireless settings from the defaults could prevent backward-compatibility with 802.11b equipment.

Initial set-up of the DI-624 is straightforward and wizard-driven, but the wizard only sets up the basics. Installers will have to venture further into the unit's browser-based menus to access other features.

CRN engineers found the DI-624's menus somewhat contrived, with certain settings, such as VPN pass-through or universal plug-and-play (UPnP), difficult to locate. Some help screens were less than helpful in describing options and best practices.

Broadband users who want to host services will be pleased with the DI-624's Dynamic DNS client, which allows domain names to be associated with non-static ISP-assigned IP addresses.

Regrettably, D-Link provides little documentation on setting up that feature. After some trial and error, CRN engineers were able to establish a Dynamic DNS service connection with www.dydns.com, a low-cost Dynamic DNS hosting service.

Overall, the DI-624 offers a rich feature set, and those choosing the DI-624 won't be disappointed by the quality of the unit's construction or its breadth of functionality.

NetGear Cable/DSL 54Mbps Wireless Router WGR614

VARs may be fooled by the diminutive size of NetGear's Cable/DSL 54Mbps Wireless Router WGR614, but the unit packs a punch when it comes to features and management.

The WGR614 squeezes a 10/100 four-port auto-sensing and auto-crossover Ethernet switch along with an Ethernet Wan port into a small oval design. The unit can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and it sports a single external antenna.

Initial speed tests of the WGR614 with two 802.11g-based client systems using NetIQ Chariot produced middle-of-the-road performance of 18Mbps in 802.11g b compatibility mode.

By switching the unit to 802.11g-only mode, real-world performance crept up to roughly 20Mbps. Anyone deploying the unit in 802.11g-only environments should consider going with the 802.11g mode for best performance.

Initial set-up of the WGR614 was quite easy. Engineers attached the unit to a broadband cable modem and turned it on. Wired systems had immediate access to the internet.

NetGear employs auto-detect capabilities for both broadband and Lan connections to automate set-up.

The unit offers a wizard-based set-up for more complex environments and an intuitive, browser-based console for other configurations. NetGear's management console has context-sensitive help and clearly labelled menu selections.

CRN engineers believe it is the best console on the market. The WGR614 integrates basic content-filtering capabilities, allowing websites to be blocked by a URL or keyword.

The unit even offers a 'Big Brother' mode, which will send an email notification if someone attempted to visit a blocked site.

Sites without static IP addresses can leverage the WGR614's Dynamic DNS capability. That feature allows a domain name to be assigned to the unit based on its current IP address, which can change often on broadband-based connections.

CRN found the product's Dynamic DNS easy to set up and was impressed with its ability to verify Dynamic DNS assignments, a helpful troubleshooting feature.

Key features include a stateful packet-inspection firewall, along with port forwarding, port triggering and UPnP support. Those with more complex network environments will benefit from the inclusion of a DMZ and the ability to create static routes.

When it comes to connecting a small-business/SoHo customer to a broadband connection, resellers will find the WGR614 ideal, considering its performance and ease of set-up.

Add-on services are the real key for resellers. Many of the products' features require planning and implementation, from setting up Dynamic DNS service to adding WEP/WPA-based security.

Most SMEs and SoHo customers can benefit from hand-holding in those areas. VARs can also seize the opportunity to better protect and serve clients by upselling back-up and antivirus solutions, maintenance and training.