3Com OfficeConnect 3CRWE554G72 User Manual

Contents

1 I NTRODUCING THE G ATEWAYWelcome to the world of networking with 3Com ® . In the modernbusiness environment, communication and sharing information is crucial.Computer networks have proved to be one of the fastest modes ofcommunication but, until recently, only large businesses could afford thenetworking advantage. The OfficeConnect ® product range from 3Comhas changed all this, bringing networks to the small office.The products that compose the OfficeConnect range give you, the smalloffice user, the same power, flexibility, and protection that has beenavailable only to large corporations. Now, you can network thecomputers in your office, connect them all to a single Internet outlet, andharness the combined power of all of your computers.OfficeConnectWireless 11gCable/DSL GatewayThe OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Gateway is designed toprovide a cost-effective means of sharing a single broadband Internetconnection amongst several wired and wireless computers. The Gatewayalso provides protection in the form of an electronic “firewall” preventinganyone outside of your network from seeing your files or damaging yourcomputers. The Gateway can also prevent your users from accessing Websites which you find unsuitable.Figure 1 shows an example network without a Gateway. In this network,only one computer is connected to the Internet. This computer mustalways be powered on for the other computers on the network to accessthe Internet.