* Blue Ridge VPN app extends network security from the corporate office to remote offices
Blue Ridge Networks has introduced a VPN appliance that creates a single network regardless of the WAN link being used.
Called RemoteLink, the device plugs in to any WAN connection via an Ethernet port. On the LAN side RemoteLink presents three Ethernet ports for a range of devices to connect to such as desktops, VoIP phones, printers and servers. WAN connections can be made over the Internet, dedicated circuits, frame relay, ATM, MPLS, dial-up – virtually any network.
The RemoteLink device creates a VPN connection with a Blue Ridge BorderGuard gateway at the company’s headquarters. BorderGuard appears to be a switch to devices attached to the corporate network, and it acts as a Layer 2 bridge between those devices and the devices attached to RemoteLink.
To connect RemoteLink with a BorderGuard gateway, users plug preconfigured USB drives into RemoteLink and the drive executes authentication and setup of the connection and the acquisition of an IP address. Once the link is established, devices attached to RemoteLink access resources as if they were connected to a LAN switch port.
The device could be used for disaster recovery. So if a branch office is cut off, RemoteLink and key network devices from that site can be moved to a safe site and reestablish a connection to headquarters with no reconfiguration of headquarters gear or the remote gear. All that is needed is an alternate WAN connection.
Pricing for RemoteLink has not been set yet, but the company says it will be between $700 and $800.
