Fixed Wireless Equipment

Quick Eagle's 4230 WAN Access Router

Quick Eagle's 4230 WAN Access Router combines a router with a data service unit. The package offers enhanced network monitoring capabilities in a single, low-priced device.

by Wayne Kawamoto [March 5, 2002]

Quick Eagle Networks, Inc., a provider of WAN access solutions, announced the introduction of its 4230 WAN Access Router—a WAN access device that is both a data service unit (DSU) and a router, and offers features that let ISPs monitor network performance.

According to the company, the 4230 WAN Access Router consolidates several devices at the LAN / WAN interface, which can save money, as well as offer more comprehensive control over service level agreements (SLA), traffic management, and network maintenance. Unlike previous multi-functional LAN-WAN access devices, Quick Eagle claims that its 4230 can handle fractional T1 all the way up to 2xT1 connections to support point-to-point connections (PPP and MLPPP) to the Internet or a private IP network.

The company says that as IP-based LAN-WAN interfaces become increasing vital to businesses, medium and large enterprises have to carefully manage the deployment, provisioning, operation, and maintenance of network services. Traditionally, a number of different devices are used at the LAN-WAN interface including data service units (DSU) for basic connectivity, WAN probes, routers to direct data traffic and other solutions that monitor functions (particularly for Service Level Agreements). The 4230 is designed to provide all of these functions at less cost than a comparable router, while improving network reliability and efficiency through network monitoring and troubleshooting functions.

The 4230 is available with one T1 port and is software upgradeable to enable a second T1 port for bandwidth on demand. The second port can be used for redundancy and load balancing to a single ISP, or can route traffic to a separate ISP. Access router features include RIP1 and RIP2 static and dynamic routing [definition], security through access lists, network monitoring capabilities that include end-to-end performance monitoring in support of QoS statistics, RMON-2 [definition] and IP SLA verification, and trouble shooting diagnostics.

The company says that the 4230 is standards-based and is therefore designed to work with networking equipment from other vendors. It is compatible with ChoiceView Plus and WANview, Quick Eagle's network management applications.

"Customers are demanding increasingly intelligent, integrated devices for better internal control over cost and bandwidth, as well as enhanced QoS and service provider management," said Alan Rice, Vice President of Marketing for Quick Eagle Networks. "The 4230 WAN Access Router represents the most advanced product in this industry-wide trend by offering the first full-featured combination router and DSU with end-to-end network monitoring features included."

"Lowering the cost of ownership is an important business objective and the 4230 enables this by integrating a number of capabilities that are not traditionally found in a single device," said Liza Henderson, Vice President of TeleChoice, a research and strategy company covering the telecommunications sector. "To have a WAN access device that is a DSU and a router, together with network monitoring capabilities at a breakthrough price point makes the 4230 a real alternative to costly devices with fewer features."

Availability and pricing
The 4230 WAN Access Router is available now for European and North American markets with a manufacturer's recommended price of $1,699.00.

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