NetGear FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Firewall w/4 Port 10/100 Switch and USB Print Server

Editors' rating

Very good

7.2

out of 10

The good: SPI firewall; 802.11b/g Wi-Fi certified; external antenna; excellent throughput; Dynamic DNS support; three-year warranty.
The bad: WPA currently unavailable; lacks WDS support; expensive.
The bottom line: Netgear's FWG114P is a great all-in-one device for those planning to set up a home office.

Reviewed by:
Patrick Unnold
Review date: 12/4/03

Intro
Setup and ease of use
Features and security

Features and security of NetGear FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless Firewall w/4 Port 10/100 Switch and USB Print Server

The Netgear FWG114P wireless firewall print server offers a strong set of security, filtering, and logging options. The wireless firewall uses SPI (stateful packet inspection) and filtering rules to forward or block specified traffic. Other security features, such as the blocking of keywords, Java, and ActiveX, work together with NAT and the filtering rules to secure your network from outside hackers. Unfortunately, the Netgear wireless firewall supports only 64/128-bit WEP security, but Netgear promises to deliver WPA security support with a firmware update in the coming weeks. We would also like to see a WDS mode that would allow the firewall to wirelessly communicate with other 802.11g access points, such as that of Buffalo's AirStation router and repeater.

Netgear's wireless firewall has the right feature set for a modern home office. It comes with ISDN/modem auto failover to keep you connected via a phone line if your broadband line goes down, Dynamic DNS so that Internet users can find your services even if you receive a dynamic IP address from your ISP, a DMZ that allows you to place a computer or server outside your firewall, and a 100Mbps WAN port to support faster broadband connections in the future. The wireless firewall's USB print server feature lets you connect a supported USB printer and share it among your networked computers. While the print server feature works with only specific printers, the list is long and includes models from Canon, Compaq, Epson, HP, and Lexmark. The wireless firewall also supports universal plug and play and has a remote-access feature that lets you configure and reset the device via a connection over the Internet.