Review: SonicWall Appliance Introduces WWAN Support

Before you exclaim, "Oh great, yet another appliance," SonicWall does bring something new to the tablesecure broadband networking without a wired broadband connection.

The company achieves this feat by incorporating support for Wireless WAN PC Cardsin other words, the TZ190 can achieve broadband connectivity via the high-speed wireless networks of vendors such as Verizon, Cingular and Sprint. That capability is offered in addition to traditional wired connectivity and can serve as a failover or primary link.

The WWAN option opens up a world of opportunities for VARs as the unit can readily be deployed where wired broadband connections are not practical, available or feasible. For example, the TZ190 could be used to bring a temporary site online, such as at a construction trailer or a demonstration network at an event. Furthermore, WWAN connectivity is basically instantaneous with no need for cable runs or technician visits and in many cases, wireless broadband proves to be much less expensive than wired business solutions. If set up properly and if the appropriate bandwidth is available, integrators can use the TZ190 to deploy VoIP phone services, along with Internet connectivity, eliminating the need for any wiring to a remote site (except, of course, for electricity).

The TZ190 offers all of the expected features beyond the WWAN connectivity. Integrators will find a deep packet inspection SPI firewall, along with optional content filtering and gateway antivirus capabilities. The unit offers eight 10/100 Ethernet connections for internal LAN connections, a 10/100 Ethernet connection for a wired WAN connection and an optional 10/100 Ethernet connection for DMZ or failover use. A nice addition to the unit would be a gigabit switch, which would increase the local bandwidth to gigabit speedssomething that is becoming more important for sites using D2D backup or large data files. For branch-office use, a VPN is included, which supports as many as 15 site-to-site connections, as well as 25 remote users. SonicWall bundles in two VPN client licenses, with additional license packs available for those interested.

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Internal LAN support is eased by the included DHCP server, while external access is guaranteed by the inclusion of Dynamic DNS support (DDNS). DDNS allows a host name to be associated with a non-static IP address, such as those provided by WWAN connections.

Installers will find setup of the product straightforward and wizard-driven. One note of caution thoughdon't add the WWAN wireless card until initial setup is complete, otherwise installers can find themselves locked out of the unit's wireless capabilities. Location of the unit is critical to ensure the strongest WWAN signal. A remote/external antenna option would be a nice addition to the unit, helping to mitigate signal strength issues.

Performance will be driven by the type of WWAN account used and signal strength, but users should expect DSL speeds or greater when the TZ190 is properly deployed. Management of the unit is done via SonicWall's well-known browser-based console, which offers a variety of wizards that can be used for most setup and management chores. The unit also includes reporting capabilities, which come in handy for determining bandwidth usage and overall access statistics.

Integrators looking to remotely manage the product can turn to SonicWall's Global Management System, a management console that allows administrators to deploy and manage dozens of devices, each with their own policies or sharing comprehensive policy definitions. That capability leads the way for VARs looking to offer SonicWall's solutions as part of a managed service.

All things considered, SonicWall has done a good job of bringing secure wireless broadband connectivity to most any site and yet still offers VARs the flexibility to build revenue from what is currently a unique solution. Options help to drive recurring and add-on revenue, while management chores are simplified by the browser-based console and dashboard.

Simply put, the TZ190 opens up new opportunities for VARs looking to introduce secure networking to both small businesses and temporary sitestwo areas that have had limited appeal to firewall vendors. What's more, the product's design flexibility allows VARs to place the unit in situations where uptime is a must. In those instances, a wired broadband connection is used for primary connectivity and the 3G WWAN connectivity is used for fail over, thereby allowing the unit to seamlessly switch between the two technologies for uninterrupted service.

SonicWall sells exclusively through the channel, and the company's program offers three partner levels based on certification and sales volume. Partners fall into Approved, Silver and Gold categories. To qualify for the program, partners must complete a certification and channel partner education program. Benefits include pre- and post-sales support, access to technical and sales support personnel, MDF, end-user seminars and sales and marketing collateral. Sales and technical training are available either on-site or over the Web.