7004WBR Wireless
Broadband Router Link
 from SMC
Reviewer: Chris Kaminski
Date: May 24, 2001
(continued)
VPN Support
IPSec and PPTP VPN support are both included. IPSec
outgoing connections require no additional configuration and incoming
sessions are supported by forwarding port 500. The 7004WBR can support up
to 8 simultaneous VPN sessions.
Configuration Backup
Why don’t all routers support configuration backup?
Simply click a single button in the administration interface and a backup
of your routers configuration is downloaded. How much simpler can it get?
Remote Administration
The 7004WEB can be enabled to be remotely
administered with a simple checkbox click. Additionally, remote
administration capabilities can be restricted to a single IP address –
very cool!
Mac and Linux Support?
The 7004WBR is fully configurable through it’s web
interface. In addition, the firmware can now be upgraded using standard
FTP commands. This makes the WBR compatible with both Macintosh and Linux.
The printer port is natively supported by Linux but Mac’s will have a
problem using it unless they are running OSX.
Physical Form Factor
 I
know it sounds crazy, but one of the coolest things about some of the SMC
products is the form factor of the power plug. It is made to plug into a
power strip without covering up a second  electrical
plug. It’s the little things that make me smile sometimes. The form factor of the router itself leaves a little
to be desired. Cables extend from both the front and the back of the unit
making it difficult to perch on the edge of a desk. Your best bet is to
mount the 7004WBR on the wall.
Other Notes
Recent firmware upgrades include support for
ICQPhone, Net2Phone, NetMeeting (in DMZ), MSN Messenger voice
communications and file transfer (in DMZ).
Conclusion
I would recommend this router to beginner and
moderate level home networkers because of the ease of setup and use. This
is practically a plug and play router that should serve most peoples needs
with a minimum of hassle. Enough features are included to keep all but the
most demanding users happy. Advanced users needing deep control over
TCP/IP, advanced routing, remote logging or enhanced wirelesss network
control may want to look at more complex routers.
The 7004WABR is SMC's latest offering. It is
very similar to the 70004WBR but adds 128bit WEP encryption, an enhanced
user interface and a better form factor - all the cable connectors are on
one the back of the router. It may even be less expensive.
Advanced features the 7004WBR does not
support
The 7004WBR does not include an LAN access
control for the wireless segment. Workstations can not be individually
locked out or included by MAC or IP address. The encryption is the only
way to keep intruders from compromising your wireless network. Always run
this router with encryption enabled.
The 7004WBR can not operate in network ‘bridged’ or
LAN to LAN mode – NAT is always enabled. This of course means that there
are no static routing capabilities.
The intrusion log does not support remote logging.
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