Affordable Router Solutions

Thanks to new products from Oracle, small business now have powerful corporate class products  to help run their business.  We are excited to offer these new products to help our Indianapolis IT Support client's grow their business.

Oracle Database 11G Standard is an affordable, full-featured database product for small business to run enterprise class systems. Database 11G is easy to manage and can grow to fit anyone’s need for now and into the future.

• Share Accurate Information—Enables customers, employees, partners, and suppliers to share accurate and up-to-date information
• Share Business Processes—Shares business processes with key stakeholders, resulting in competitive advantages
• Add and Configure Content—Allows both programmers and end users to create, configure, and add content to portal pages

Oracle Document Capture is a software system to help users capture printed or received content (ie. documents and faxes) into electronic content with searchable/inkless tags imposed on top of the document for searching and indexing reasons.  It has a user-friendly web interface. This product also integrates easy with other Oracle products such as Database 11G to store, retrieve and archive the content.  Other features include. 

• One Capture System for all Content Types—Identify, capture, and convert paper and electronic documents (Word, Excel, PDFs, etc.) into viable image formats
• Automated Indexing Options—Streamline document indexing via database linking, database linked pick lists, optical character recognition (OCR), and bar code recognition
• Increased Document Processing Efficiency—Ensure a fast and efficient capture process with production-level document scanning and indexing

Oracle Application Express(APEX) is a software development environment. You can easily make web based programs with little training or setup. Application Express also comes with pre made templates such as Timesheets, Asset Manager, Loan Calculator and Online Stores.

Our goal is not to try to persuade Indianapolis IT Support clients to run out and convert all of their Microsoft SQL Server database to Oracle, event that would make our Oracle representative very happy.  We are also a Microsoft shop, so are very able to help our client weight the pros/cons between one vendor or the other.  If your company does not currently use a database, but due to growth and efficiency reasons needs to implement a database solution then check out Oracle's One Click suite of products.  The Interconnect Group has the expertise to offer and implement turn-key solutions to meet the demands of today's IT Support for Small Business customers.  Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about how these and other Oracle products can help your business grow.

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Due to the nature of my business, I need to have the ability to stay constantly connected via a barrage of remote worker solutions.  Although my Blackberry fills a lot of the gaps, there are many times when a 3G/Broadband card is required.  I've had a Verizon Wireless 3G card for a few years and always travel with it no matter if I'm traveling for business or pleasure.  One of the drawbacks to using a broadband card is the inability to easily share it or have multiple devices connected to the Internet at the same time.

A wireless router would fit the bill because it would allow me to share my broadband Internet connection as well as plug in a computer via the Ethernet port.  Until just recently the only options I had found were over priced and highly unreliable, not to mention bulky for a road warrior traveling.

If you own almost ANY carrier or almost ANY model of cellular broadband card, then the NexConnect 3G Wireless Router is a MUST HAVE remote worker solutions!  For most business or home users, the consumer line will suffice.  They also offer a Business Class version which offers some advance VPN features for the more stringent remote worker solutions.

Both models accept USB and PCMCIA style broadband cards (PCMCIA card plugs into the side of the unit not shown in attached pictures).  Unlike some of the more expensive competitive products, the NexConnect router works with with broadband cards from multiple carrier networks.

The product has a very easy to use GUI interface.  An auto configuration wizard basically makes the router as easy as plug in play with the broadband card.  This makes it nice because most remote worker solutions users can configure this on your their own.

Have you ever thought about using your broadband card as a fail-over to your main Internet connection?  This router comes equipped with a fail-over mode which senses when the main Internet connection goes down and then switches over to the broadband card Internet connection.  One of the two Ethernet ports on the back are for this purpose.

This router also ranks highly on my affordable router solutions list.  The consumer version retails for $119 and the business class version retails for $189.  We are selling both options at a discount from the retail pricing and can drop ship right to your home or business.  In my opinion, most remote worker solutions business users will do just fine with the consumer version.

NexConnect 3G Wireless Router Spec Sheet

Business Class 3G/4G Broadband Router Spec Sheet

If you would like to learn more about these remote worker solutions products or how they can benefit you or your business, then please contact me at bizsupport@tincg.com or call (317) 831-0704 to place your order.  I look forward to working with you.

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Does your company have multiple facilities within a few miles of each other that require data/voice communication connectivity between them?

I've come across several situations where companies opt to pay reoccurring monthly fees to the local Telco carrier for a Point-to-Point (PtP) T1, because they most likely didn't know of other solutions available to them.  Although one solution does not fit all, I wanted to make you aware of some alternative connectivity solutions which saved our clients several thousand dollars over traditional carrier connectivity products.

Private PtP Wireless Network Solutions

My wireless network solutions Indiana consulting and implementation practice takes proven, carrier grade wireless network solutions to the business market.  One project we did last year helped a manufacturing plant in Indianapolis connect their sales office to the main building located 3/4 mile away.  A PtP T1 from the phone company would have cost them $350-450/month for a 36 month term and would have only yielded them 1.5 Mbps upload and download speeds.  The PtP wireless solution we implemented for them provided 20-25 Mbps of upload and download speeds at a 35% cost reduction over the same 36 month term.  At month 37, the PtP wireless system is paid for minus normal maintenance, so our client's Return on Investment (ROI) will rapidly excell from then on through the life of the equipment.

Commercial carriers have been using wireless solutions for decades.  Today's market offers affordable licensed and unlicensed radio solutions.  I often provide WISP business consulting clients both the business case and technical support required to implement wireless network solutions.  These systems can and have been deployed in private systems where connectivity for both voice and data are required between multiple facilities.

If you are looking for more affordable alternatives to keep multiple facilities connected, then benefit from our wireless network solutions Indiana experience.  Getting started is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. An extensive site survey is required of all involved facilities
2. A path study will need to be completed by our engineering staff
3. A feasibility study will be made to determine cost per alternative options

If you are interested in learning more about these and other alternative connectivity strategies, then call me at (317) 831-0704 or email me at cwhaley@tincg.com to get more information.

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I am amazed by all the options available to today's business community as long as you are located in a somewhat populated community.  Being an Internet connectivity solutions provider, I've been able to design and implement several Internet solutions that meet client's business needs.  Internet connectivity has developed for many businesses to be more and require more than just choosing the best rate for the greatest connection speeds.  I recommend considering the following:

• Reliability
• Redundancy
• Efficient Utilization
• Remote Office Connectivity
• Scalability

Reliability is a major concern because Internet connectivity is the lifeline to clients and productivity for most of today's businesses.  If your business can't afford to be down, then you may require an Internet connection that has defined Service Level Agreement (SLA) terms as found in T1 circuits.

Redundancy may go hand in hand with your reliability requirements.  Depending on the size of your business, redundancy may be met by having a Cellular 3G Card on hand at all times.  For larger organizations, a backup broadband connection or T1 might be required to offer the necessary redundancy that is required.  If redundancy is important, then I recommend Internet connectivity solutions that implement a dual carrier, dual delivery approach when possible.  For example, two T1s from different carriers may still ride over the same Local Loop network which still offers a single point of failure.  Where as a T1 and a Cable broadband connection offers two separate paths and two separate carriers.

Efficient Utilization means that I recommend leveraging both your voice and data connectivity requirements in one common connection.  Through the use of Voice Over IP (VoIP) deliver strategies found in many new small business telecommunications implementations, PRI T1s and Internet T1s can be combined.  The combined connection can be programmed to meet peak demands of both types of use.

Remote Office Connectivity requirements should be considered simultaneously with the main HQ location.  Advance Internet connectivity solutions such as MPLS networks can be utilized to connect multiple facilities (typically more than 3-5 locations).  I have worked with clients that have over thirty geographically diverse locations all over the United States that implemented an MPLS Network that carried both their voice and data at a highly reduced reoccurring monthly costs over their previous data only interconnection strategy.  As with all complex implementations, it requires proper design and implementation to be successful.

Scalability is often overlooked.  All good Internet connectivity solutions should take into consideration a communication growth projection analysis.  Depending on the company size, growth projections might dictate the need for greater bandwidth over the next few years.  If so, look into adjustable bandwidth products such as DS3 Circuit, Ethernet Over Copper or Fiber Connectivity.  These products typically allow for easy bandwidth increases.  I also recommend that all good Internet connectivity solutions should also review equipment scalability as well as circuit scalability.  For instance, it might be cheaper to purchase a larger router up front with the ability to add extra T1 cards than to purchase a lower model limited expansion model.

The next time you are in the market to get one or many of your facilities connected to the Internet, allow some time to review the greater connectivity strategy.  Hopefully, these five points will allow you to select the correct Internet connectivity solutions for your business.

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Our credit card processor decided earlier this year that our physical premise was required to meet their PCI Compliance standards.  Not a bad thing by any stretch even though our website is hosted off premise and our credit card processing is handled via a secure card terminal.  They contracted a third party to provide the PCI Compliance testing which included both a multiple choice questionnaire about policy and procedures and a physical security test of our data network.

First off, you may be asking who needs to be PCI Compliant and what is it exactly.  PCI Compliance is the Payment Card Industry's Data Standard.  If you are handling credit card numbers/payments at your premise and those numbers are stored on a premise based system or server, then you are responsible to make sure your data network is secure.  If you are using a credit card processor terminal to run your credit card numbers, then most likely that data is being stored and transmitted in a secure method.  However, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Since we secure data networks as a part of our computer support Indiana practice, we took on the challenge as a learning opportunity to help our clients in PCI Compliance Indiana.  Our goal was to find out what exactly this third party would be scoring us on.  Although our network typical denies outside originated access for all devices other than those added to our Safe Sender List, the third party testing facility made us add their Public IP address to our list in order to allow them to fully test our systems.

We utilize a MikroTik router as our main firewall/router at our office.  The MikroTik platform is based on a Linux OS platform and subsequently utilizes a few Open Source applications.  Although our initial testing didn't prove to have too many security issues, the third party testing recommended a few changes that improved our game.

A few parting thoughts with respect to the process we successfully completed:

• Always Restrict Access Using Access Control Lists (ACL) or "Safe Sender" List
• Stop Services Not Absolutely Necessary on your Border Router
• Keep Router Firmware Updated (Although It Doesn't Always Equate to Security)
• Remain Mindful of Open Source Based Code Vulnerabilities
• Utilize Qualified IT Network Support Resources To Setup Critical Devices

At the conclusion of our testing, we now have a successful formula for our clients to be considered PCI Compliant.  It is interesting to note that you can not purchase a "PCI Compliant Router" because it is how that router is configured that determines it compliance.  Moral of the story, use a PCI Compliance Indiana firm such as The Interconnect Group to implement your border router because we've been through it personally and can take the guess work out configuring your affordable router solutions.

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There are several Affordable Router Solutions available to both the carrier and enterprise level markets.  Like any name brand item, one pays a premium for the "name" behind the product and sometimes sacrifices support and performance.  I've been a network integrator since 2004.  I'm comfortable with many brands of routers, but typically try to select the right product for the application.  I wanted to briefly review a few common router implementations and my logic behind selecting vendor A, I, or M over C.  The following three routers are my top Affordable Router Soutions for the specific application.

My Top Router Picks

• Wireless Applications - MikroTik RB433AH Routerboard
• VoIP Integration - ADTRAN TA904 and NV3448 Routers
• Enterprise Workhorse - Imagestream Rebel Router

Wireless Network Solutions

I've owned and operated an Indiana Wireless Solutions and Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) since 2004.  From the beginning, we operated on a very tight budget which forced us to review some of the Linux Router Solutions available to the market.  We began using MikroTik routers from day one.  We utilized them because of affordability, flexibility, and wireless performance.  These routers have a very good GUI in addition to command-line interface (CLI).  MikroTik manufactures there own brand of routerboards for their RouterOS or you can load the RouterOS on a x86 PC.  Each routerboard is a full blown router and firewall.  If wireless access is required, then one can add a mpci based radio card to the board for an integrated wireless AP and router solution.

Although MikroTik offers various routerboard solutions that meet different needs, I prefer the RB433AH routerboard.  The architecture allows for plenty of throughput.  In fact, I have a full duplex 5GHz N-stream solution running for a given client which is reliably pushing 28-30M full duplex throughput across the system which links their annex facility to their main building almost 1 mile away.  These routers also offer advance firewalling, QoS Services, and scripting abilities.  Most important is the Hotspot solution that is included in MikroTik's RouterOS.

VoIP Integration

I prefer the ADTRAN router line for all VoIP Integrations.  I use both the Total Access 900 and NetVanta lines.  ADTRAN has integrated switch ports into some NetVanta models to minimize the amount of devices required to manage in the network.  ADTRAN offers both a "IOS" style CLI and a GUI.  I prefer the CLI for setup and troubleshooting, but utilize the GUI a lot to check status.  The Voice Quality Monitor (VQM) feature is very nice for VoIP Integrations.  It allows me to trend voice quality statistics over time while also reporting key metrics such as MOS scores, delay, jitter, and packet loss.  The ADTRAN product has superior SIP messaging troubleshooting.  With other products, I would have to perform a packet capture and then export it into Wireshark for analysis.  In ADTRAN's CLI, I can view the SIP level messaging in real time. 

Hands down the best thing I can say about ADTRAN is the professionalism and helpfulness of their Technical Support.  Guess what?  Their support comes with the purchase of their product unlike the Big "C" brand.  ADTRAN offers a 5yr. warranty on both of these product lines as well as most of their other products. 

Affordable Router Solutions for the Enterprise

I've also been very happy with Indiana based router manufacturer, Imagestream.  The Imagestream solution is based on a Linux OS platform.  It currently does not have a GUI interface, but they do promise to release one soon.  In a recent conversation with Imagestream's Lead Software Developer for the GUI Project, he mentioned to me the advance monitoring capabilities integrated into the GUI.  After getting a sneak peak of the first GUI version, I think they are on the right track.

The Imagestream Rebel router is in my opinion the "jewel" of the Imagestream product line with the proper blend of price and performance.  It out performs a lot of other routers in its class, including Cisco.  It comes equipped with six Gig-E ports while having the ability to route ~100Mb Ethernet at wire speed.  Imagestream offers a wide variety of interface cards to handle fiber to T1 termination.  The ability to implement advance QoS Services and Firewalling Filters allows for some very advanced controls of the data streams.  I've seen clients with a little scripting/programming talent do some really advance automated monitoring tasks with these routers.  Imagestream also offers superb support for their routers which is included with the purchase.

IT Networking Support and Equipment Selection

Please consult your IT Networking Support professional before purchasing equipment.  If you currently do not work with someone in this area, then feel free to contact The Interconnect Group for assistance with any of these router products and more.  The key to this article is that you do not have to overpay for the right router solution.  There are several affordable router solutions that will meet your needs on performance and price.