U.S. Robotics Unveils Firewall/VPN With Storage

The USR8200 appliance, an expandable broadband router, supports up to 253 IPsec connections simultaneously and includes USB 2.0 and FireWire ports for adding networked storage. Powered by an Intel IXP422 network processor, the appliance also provides a comprehensive set of security features to protect remote-office and small-business networks from uninvited guests, said Frank Sugino, strategic development manager at Chicago-based U.S. Robotics.

"With the growing emphasis on security, the ability to protect sensitive data is a primary concern for any network," Sugino said. "The USR8200 provides an expandable networked, data-sharing device and an affordable foundation for any small-office network."

For example, the USR8200 offers Stateful Packet Inspection firewalls, DMZ and VPN support, as well as protection against denial-of-service (DOS) attacks, Sugino said. The device also employs the U.S. Robotics SecureStack modular design, which enables network managers to stack it with other networking, wireless and broadband equipment to minimize clutter, he added.

In addition, the USR8200 incorporates a Web-based interface--eliminating the need for users to learn complicated network management tools--and supports the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard for easy installation and configuration.

U.S. Robotics said the USR8200 is priced at $349 and is available to channel partners now.