1
INTRODUCING THE ROUTER
Welcome to the world of networking with 3Com
®
. In the modern
business environment, communication and sharing information is crucial.
Computer networks have proved to be one of the fastest modes of
communication but, until recently, only large businesses could afford the
networking advantage.
OfficeConnect
Cable/DSL Router
The OfficeConnect Cable/DSL Router is designed to provide a
cost-effective means of sharing a single broadband Internet connection
amongst several computers. The Router also includes an electronic
“firewall” that protects your network using Stateful Packet Inspection
(SPI) to detect intruders and prevent them from seeing your files or
damaging your computers. The Router can also prevent your users from
accessing Web sites which you find unsuitable. This completely equipped,
Cable/DSL Router also features Virtual Private Network (VPN) initiation
and termination, allowing encrypted links to other private networks.
The example in Figure 1
shows a network without a Router where only
one computer is connected to the Internet. This computer must always
be powered on for the other computers on the network to access the
Internet.