Netpassage 15 / 15BR scalable broadband router review

NetPassage 15 / 15BR broadband router

Date: Sep 20, 2001  

Reviewer: Chris Kaminski

Score: 2/3

Web Site:Compex

 

The NetPassage 15B/BR is Compex’s Parallel Broadband Internet Router. Like other broadband routers, it will let multiple computers on your LAN share a single broadband Internet connection using a connection sharing technology called NAT or Network Address Translation. Where the Netpassage differs from the norm is in its ability to gang together multiple Internet connections and multiple netpassage routers for ‘infinite scalability’. Don’t get excited yet, the implementation of this ‘parallel broadband’ technology is probably not appropriate for home networks.

As a broadband router, the Netpassage holds it’s own well. It includes most of the features you would expect in a broadband router like NAT, ranged port forwarding, remote administration, and VPN PPTP pass-through. As you look deeper into the routers configuration and operation, you will find some features that make this router shine.

 

Feature List	NAT based Internet connection sharing Automatic Time setting Remotely configurable via WEB or TELNET with a user defined port
Advanced Features	Filtering capable of IP, port, and time settings DHCP reservations by MAC address Port forwarding with ranges Built in NetMeeting support 'parallel broadband'
Ports	1 RJ-45 Ethernet WAN port 4 RJ-45 Ethernet LAN ports

Administration is handled through a basic web interface. The screens are logical and easy to follow, though on the Spartan side. It often takes a few clicks to get down to some of the advanced configuration options, but that is probably good since it keeps all of the basic configs up front and easily accessable

The Netpassage has an automatic time-setting feature that reads the time from the computer configuring the router. It does this by parsing the date and time from the HTTP request when using the web admin interface – smart!  BTW, the time appears to be only used by the routers 'filtering'.

Unlike many routers, the NetPassage allows you to set ‘ranges’ of ports to forward. Advanced applications often need 10 or 20 ports to be opened to work properly. The NetPassage allows a ‘range’ to be specified instead of having to add a new port forwarding entry for each port.

 

The industry is learning to implement support for NetMeeting! The NetPassage comes with built in support. Video Conferencing is finally becoming possible through routers.

The NetPassage lets you back up the routers configuration onto your computer. This can be a life saver for people with complex configurations. Also, when updating your router firmware your configuration does not get set to default! Almost every router on the market sets itself back to factory default settings but the NetPassage keeps its configuration settings! Lastly, in the event that a firmware update fails, Compex includes a ‘failsafe’ procedure that allows you to upload a new flashrom even if the last try failed! These are all features every router on the market should have.

Review Continues -->