All-In-One Networking: Does One Size Fit Small?

Companies like Allworx Corp., Rochester, N.Y., Critical Links, Fairfield, N.J., British Columbia-based Sutus Inc. and others are getting in on the office-in-a-box craze, releasing products that encompass several different types of services.

The idea of adding services such as security or VoIP to networking equipment is nothing new. San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco Systems did it with its Integrated Services Router (ISR) with amazing success, though the ISR is more targeted at the branch office than the SMB space. But VARs are quickly realizing that offering their small-business clients office-in-a-box solutions is generating success.

"There's no doubt that there's a major need out there for companies that are 25 seats and under," said Tom Palmer, president of AdrenaSpeed Solutions, a Sutus partner in Danville, Calif. "You're offering SMBs five or more different solutions all in one box. It's really easy to sell. SMBs are being very careful with their money, but I'm seeing growth."

Jon Dessel, president of Ontario, Calif.-based solution provider ITIQ, a Critical Links partner, agreed. He said office-in-a-box solutions offer VARs inroads to companies that are looking for either just a voice system or are planning for disaster recovery. An all-in-one eliminates the need to cobble together several complex components.

"Now I can go in and say, 'You've got a complete e-mail, Web, voice and security solution,'" Dessel said. "We benefit because it's so easy. If it's not easy, then it won't sell. But it's got to be easy not only to sell, but to install."

David Kolssak, managing partner for Wheeling, Ill.-based solution provider Turnkey IT, summed it up like this: "Office-in a-box solutions tie together the simple things larger companies take for granted. The SMB market is ripe for these new technologies."

Allworx 24x
Allworx 24x includes VoIP telephone handsets, combination telephony and network servers, and software packages that can be mixed and matched for an ideal configuration. The packages add specific advanced functions, such as queuing, giving customers the opportunity to buy (license is for unlimited use) just what's needed.

The 24x supports up to 100 employees per site with extender hardware. The server sits between the LAN switch and external Internet and provides five FXS ports for analog phone lines. The server has built-in support for up to two T1 data circuits as well as legacy T1 lines that have not been provisioned with PRI. It functions as a router, e-mail and Web server, and SPI firewall. Built-in security protocols protect the external sites it can manage as a public WAN. The e-mail server supports POP3, SMTP and IMAP4. Finally, the server can function as a VPN if the optional package is purchased.

Allworx recommends that installation be performed by a reseller. Compared to the other two products, it doesn't offer the simplest setup (the Sutus BC200 gets the nod on that front), but the process is centralized and straightforward. Partners access the Web-based administration console to set up all the server and telephony functions. There is a checklist that details a typical setup, such as configuring the network, turning on the VPN and testing to make sure everything works. The network installation tools, such as the DHCP Server Discovery and Trace Route, can be used to tweak settings.

Most of the maintenance and configuration can be handled remotely, a plus for resellers. Telephony settings, such as adding extensions and managing auto-attendants, are handled through the interface. Users customize their personal settings, such as presence, conference and phone features, using an internal Web site. Allworx 24x has follow-me calling, where calls can be routed to multiple external phone numbers before returning to Allworx voicemail. Allworx also allows users to make outbound calls through the system even when not in the office. The system can also generate an SMS text message every time a voicemail is received—and if messages aren't retrieved within a set time, they are escalated to a backup colleague. The reports are fairly comprehensive, providing information about real-time status and call details.

Pricing for the 24x is $4,345, if the mirror drive (duplicate hard drive for data redundancy) is installed. Otherwise, it is $3,995.

Allworx's channel program is simple: Partners sign a reseller agreement, complete a free, four-day technical training course and purchase a demo kit. Margins range from 35 percent to 50 percent, depending on configuration. Since there are no license fees from Allworx, partners can set their own "upgrade" charges.

Next: Sutus Business Central 200 Sutus Business Central 200
Sutus shipped its Business Central 200 unit to the Test Center for this review. The main hardware is small, measuring 9 inches deep, 11 inches wide and 4 inches tall. The BC200 combines a router, domain controller, wireless access point, and file and e-mail server into a single box that also offers security and core telephony functions. It is priced at $3,995 for nine or fewer users, and $5,445 for 10 or more. There are no user license fees, and phones are not included in the base price.

The wizard configured the server, set up the Internet connection and created user workspaces as part of basic configuration. Advanced setup was handled by the Business Central Manager, a Web-browser-based interface. Under BCM, an auto-attendant greeting for the phone system was recorded, the firewall set up, wireless networking installed and VPN configured. The interface uses Flash, which makes the experience slightly sluggish, but bearable.

The BC200 came largely preconfigured, the way Sutus delivers most units. This means less time spent on configuration for solution providers. The system had 250 GBytes of disk space configured as RAID 1, eight 10/100 PoE ports and one Gigabit Ethernet port. The router and firewall were already configured to block insecure network access and to allow normal connections. The Web server fits most basic Web site needs but lacks e-commerce features.

For telephony, BC200 offers native VoIP support; direct lines and features, such as three-way conferencing; automatic company directory; call forwarding and fax support. For the phone system, any Polycom phone, regardless of its features, will work with the BC200.

Each workspace includes assigned phones, e-mail accounts and network file folders. Depending on the file permissions, these workspaces can be assigned to an individual, a group, or to the entire location. This was the only solution examined here that offered this kind of flexibility to support collaboration.

Despite being a fairly young company, Sutus is 100 percent committed to the channel. The company's channel partner program has two levels, with growing volume commitments for each. Sutus offers full training for no cost, rebates/spiffs and an MDF program. An awards program is planned for the third quarter of this year. Each partner has to purchase a demo kit ($1,500), Polycom phones and invest the time needed to train. Margins can range as high as 50 percent.

Critical Links edgeBox
At 2U, the Critical Links edgeBox was the heftiest appliance reviewed. The edgeBox server contains a router, IP-PBX, QoS utilities, storage and print services, and optional Wi-Fi.

The multifunction business gateway combines open-source Asterisk telephony with networking into a single box. Based on Linux and Apache, it utilizes the LAMP stack and integrates other open-source applications, perhaps making this the most open-source-friendly solution in this group.

On the telephony side, edgeBox is a full-featured IP-PBX and PSTN gateway. The SIP gateway also has integrated QoS for voice. Advanced call-center features are available, such as interactive voice response systems, conferences, least-cost routing and queues. There's also call park, call transfer and hunt groups, where all phones ring, which is a useful feature in a support setting. Administrators can take advantage of QoS management to set VoIP and Web-caching policies.

Pricing varies by the model, which depends on the maximum number of users supported. The Office Gateway supports up to 40 seats while the Business Gateway can support 100. The Enterprise Gateway supports up to 300 seats. This makes edgeBox the most scalable solution tested, while remaining affordable to the smallest SMB.

Reviewers set up edgeBox as a gateway between the LAN and the Internet, at the edge of the network. Setup and configuration were much more complicated compared to other solutions because there were no wizards to unify and simplify the various components. The basic settings, such as those for LAN and firewall, are entered separately from advanced settings, such as configuring the Web server, Web mail and file shares. That's not to say it's complicated to perform—just time-consuming.

The VoIP and PBX settings were much more intuitive, with graphical interfaces to add new phones and users to the system. The system can support VoIP, analog and IP softphones. The PBX can be automatically configured from the phone instantaneously. Voice prompts can be customized and FXO lines can be configured.

Critical Links targets vertical-focused partners by configuring hardware and third-party software for six vertical markets. For example, education-focused partners know the education configuration has already been segmented with software and hardware that's appropriate for schools.

Primary revenue opportunities are on margins, but partners can expect recurring revenue from maintenance, installation, hosted applications and managed services. The platform allows partners to perform a combination of on-site and remote management. Partners can offer hosted e-mail, security and VPN, as well as advanced services such as network access control.

_ Next: Bottom Line _ Bottom Line
The Allworx 24x and the Sutus BC200 were close competitors, and it was a struggle to determine which should be ranked first. The Sutus BC200 hits the SMB right on all counts—with its physical size, balanced features on both the network and the telephony sides, and flexibility in supporting any Polycom phones. However, compared to the Allworx 24x, it's more expensive for the number of users it can support. The Allworx 24x solution blew reviewers away on its strong telephony features, but it is more of a phone system with file services added on, as opposed to a balanced box. For customers most interested in a phone system, the Allworx solution would be best, but for smaller customers, Sutus fits the need just fine without any of the call-center-specific functions.

Critical Links offered a comprehensive solution with the most options for expansion, but the complexity of managing and configuring each component makes the solution a mixed blessing. The edgeBox in this case offers a little too much for the small customer.

Methodology
The CRN Test Center looked at products from Allworx, Critical Links and Sutus to see how well they fit the needs of a VAR offering a small-business customer a complete solution for either a new office or a branch office. Reviewers looked at the hardware from the physical standpoint, including size, noise and ease of deployment. The feature set was also judged on how well it fits small businesses' needs. Since the focus is on smaller customers, price played a big role in this evaluation. Scalability was considered in relation to price. Finally, the flexibility of the telephony features was reviewed, such as the ability to utilize existing infrastructure as well as scalability. Since these products offered both telephony and networking components, these were evaluated separately. All bandwidth management or QoS applications were noted. Reviewers then evaluated the unit on ease of management and considered each company's channel program to see which would be best for solution providers.