3Com OfficeConnect User Manual

Also see for OfficeConnect: Datasheet User guide Datasheet Getting started guide User guide

Contents

3Com OfficeConnect User Manual Manual pdf 9 page image

1 I NTRODUCING THE OFFICECONNECTWIRELESS CABLE/DSL GATEWAYWelcome to the world of networking with 3Com®. In the modern businessenvironment, communication and sharing information is crucial. Computernetworks have proved to be one of the fastest modes of communication but, untilrecently, only large businesses could afford the networking advantage. TheOfficeConnect® product range from 3Com has changed all this, bringing networksto the small office.The products that compose the OfficeConnect range give you, the small officeuser, the same power, flexibility, and protection that has been available only tolarge corporations. Now, you can network the computers in your office, connectthem all to a single Internet outlet, and harness the combined power of all of yourcomputers.OfficeConnectWireless Cable/DSLGatewayThe OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway is designed to provide acost-effective means of sharing a single broadband Internet connection amongstseveral wired and wireless computers. The Gateway also provides protection in theform of an electronic “firewall,” preventing anyone outside of your network fromseeing your files or damaging your computers.As you can see in the example in Figure 1, one computer is connected to theInternet. This computer must always be powered on for the other computers onthe network to access the Internet.Figure 1 Example Network Without a Wireless Cable/DSL GatewayWhen you use the Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway in your network (Figure 2), itbecomes your connection to the Internet. Connections can be made directly to theGateway, or to an OfficeConnect Hub or Switch, expanding the number ofcomputers you can have in your network.