The IT Nerd

I’ve got two pieces of news from Linksys that will be of interest to businesses. The first piece of news is that Linksys announced two new wireless access points. Their feature set includes:

• Wi-Fi 802.11ac Dual Band support
• Data Rates up to 1200 Mbps – Linksys AC1200 Dual Band Access Point (LAPAC1200)
• Data Rates up to 1750 Mbps – Linksys AC1750 Dual Band Access Point (LAPAC1750)
• LAPAC1200 has a MIMO 2X2 configuration
• LAPAC1750 has a MIMO 3X3 configuration
• Support as Powered Device with 802.3at (PoE+)
• Support for up to 16 different SSIDs
• Configurable as a Workgroup Bridge for range extension
• Designed for ceiling or wall mounting
• Industrial-strength Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA, WPA2) security and data encryption
• Advanced security and preventions (802.1X Supplicant, SSID to VLAN Mapping, MAC Access Control, Rogue AP detection)
• Set-up and management through the Web Interface or Simple Network Management Protocol
• Limited Lifetime Warranty
• IPv6 support

The ratified 802.11ac is the new wireless standard for client devices such as laptops, tablets and smart phones going forward. Future-proofing new networks or upgrading older wireless-G or N networks with Wireless-AC routers and access points provide businesses with the high performance wireless functionality that offices, large or small, require. Plus they come with business-class security features including Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2), 802.1X Supplicant Authentication, MAC-based ACL, Rouge AP Detection, SSID-to-VLAN Mapping, Wireless Scheduler, and more.

The Linksys Business Wireless-AC Access Points are planned to roll out in April through major distributors. SMBs and resellers can find a participating distributor at http://www.linksys.com/en-ca/business/find-a-distributor. MSRP is as follows:

• Wireless-AC1200 Dual Band Access Point (LAPAC1200):  MSRP $329.99 USD
• Wireless-AC1750 Dual Band Access Point (LAPAC1750):  MSRP $379.99 USD

The second piece of news is the announcement of new business class switches from Linksys. The new Smart Switch line-up is available in 8, 18 or 26 Gigabit Ethernet port configurations with or without Power over Ethernet+ to provide power to connected devices such as Wi-Fi access points or IP security cameras. The new Linksys Smart Switches include network management features that are not found in unmanaged switches, such as various QoS features and DHCP Snooping, to further enhance network performance and security. The new Linksys Smart Switches are energy efficient by powering down ports when connected devices are inactive and also detect the cable length of connected devices to adjust the power accordingly. Here’s a look at their lineup:

Linksys Smart (PoE+) Gigabit Switches

8-Port Smart Gigabit Switch (LGS308)    

8-Port Smart Gigabit (PoE+) Switch (LGS308P)

• 8 PoE+ Gigabit ports (with 72W) (LGS308P only)
• Desktop form factor with metal enclosure
• Easy configuration and management
• Energy efficient
• Fanless
• VLAN
  • Port-based and 802.1q tag-based VLANs
  • Management VLAN
  • Guest VLAN support
  • Dynamic VLAN assignment via Radius server with 802.1x client authentication
• Advanced Security:
  • 802.1X with RADIUS
  • DHCP snooping
  • IP-MAC binding
  • Storm Control, Spanning Tree, Link Aggregation
• QoS priority levels with 4 hardware queues
• IPv6 support
• Set-up and management through the Web Interface or Simple Network Management Protocol
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

18-Port Smart Gigabit (PoE+) Switch (LGS318P)

26-Port Smart Gigabit (PoE+) Switch (LGS326P)

18-Port Smart Gigabit Switch (LGS318)

26-Port Smart Gigabit Switch (LGS326)

• 18 Gigabit ports (16 with PoE+ and 125W power) LGS318P only
• 26 Gigabit ports (24 with PoE+ and 192W power) LGS326P only
• Rack mountable form factor with metal enclosure
• Easy configuration and management
• Energy efficient
• Advanced Security:
  • 802.1X with RADIUS
  • DHCP snooping
  • IP-MAC binding
  • Storm Control, Spanning Tree, Link Aggregation
• QoS priority levels with 4 hardware queues
• IPv6 support
• Set-up and management through the Web Interface or Simple Network Management Protocol
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

The Linksys Smart (PoE+) Gigabit Switches are planned to roll out in March through major distributors. SMBs and resellers can find a participating distributor at http://www.linksys.com/en-ca/business/find-a-distributor. MSRP is as follows:

• 8-Port Smart Gigabit Switch (LGS308)                                                      MSRP $119.99 USD
• 8-Port Smart Gigabit PoE+ Switch (LGS308P)                                        MSRP $249.99 USD
• 18-Port Smart Gigabit Switch (LGS318)                                                   MSRP $229.99 USD
• 18-Port Smart Gigabit PoE+ Switch (LGS318P)                                     MSRP $429.99 USD
• 26-Port Smart Gigabit Switch (LGS326)                                                   MSRP $299.99 USD
• 26-Port Smart Gigabit PoE+ Switch (LGS326P)                                     MSRP $599.99 USD

Linksys used to be a player in the wireless networking market for business. They disappeared for a while, but today they’re back. Two new Linksys Wireless-N access points were announced today.

The new access points can be deployed as an access point or range extender. The Linksys Business Wireless-N Access Points use the widely adopted 802.11n wireless technology to provide a fast and highly reliable wireless network and support advanced features such as Power over Ethernet for flexible placement, plus Rogue AP Detection and 802.11X supplicant for enhanced security.

Here’s the lineup:

Wireless-N300 Access Point with PoE (LAPN300) – MSRP $199.99 USD

• For desktop use or mounted to a wall or ceiling
• Single Band with speeds up to 300Mbps*
• Deploys as an Access Point or Range Extender
• Advanced Security:
  • WPA, WPA2, 802.1X with RADIUS
  • 802.1X Supplicant
  • SSID to VLAN Mapping
  • MAC-based Access Control
  • Rogue AP detection
• Can be powered by 802.3af/at compliant source e.g. a Linksys Business PoE Compatible Switch or through a Linksys Gigabit High Power PoE Injector
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• IPv6 support
• Set-up and management through the Web Interface or Simple Network Management Protocol
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

Wireless-N600 Dual Band Access Point with PoE (LAPN600) – MSRP $299.99 USD

• For desktop use or mounted to a wall or ceiling.
• Dual Band (2.4Ghz + 5Ghz) with speeds up to 300Mbps + 300Mbps*
• Band Steering support for optimal performance
• Supports Access Point and Range Extender mode
• Advanced Security:
  • WPA, WPA2, 802.1X with RADIUS
  • 802.1X Supplicant
  • SSID to VLAN Mapping
  • MAC-based Access Control
  • Rogue AP detection

• Can be powered by 802.3at compliant source e.g. a Linksys Business Gigabit PoE Compatible Switch or through a Linksys Gigabit High Power PoE Injector
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• IPv6 support
• Set-up and management through the Web Interface or Simple Network Management Protocol
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

They’re available later this month through major distributors. SMBs and resellers can find a participating distributor here: http://www.linksys.com/en-us/business/find-a-distributor

Linksys has something that will interest small business users who need surveillance needs. The line-up offers four new 1080p IP surveillance cameras, available in dome and bullet options with additional features such as night vision, weatherproof, IK10 vandal-proof housing, remote access, zoom, pan and tilt features plus more.  The network video recorder, developed specifically for use with the Linksys surveillance cameras, provides up to 8TB of storage and records up to eight video feeds simultaneously. The new surveillance cameras and network video recorder give small businesses and resellers a flexible monitoring solution that can be accessed on site or remotely using the existing IP network.  With robust features and rugged housing these cameras can help provide the peace of mind businesses need at the cost they can afford.

Here’s the camera lineup:

1080p Indoor Night Vision Dome Camera LCAD03FLN – $449.99 MSRP (Shipping February)

1080p 3MP Indoor/Outdoor 360 Mini Dome Camera LCAM03360D – $699.99 MSRP (Shipping March)

1080p 3MP Outdoor Night Vision Bullet Camera LCAB03VLNOD – $599.99 MSRP (Shipping February)

1080p 3MP Outdoor Night Vision Dome Camera LCAD03VLNOD – $599.99 MSRP (Shipping March)

Features include:

• Night vision, motion detection, and alarm/event notification help your business stay alert around the clock
• Large, 5MP sensor provides high quality video (Outdoor)
• Wide-angle view and wide dynamic range (WDR) available with a firmware upgrade
• The IP67 weatherproof and IK10 vandal-proof housing helps protect the system from both natural and criminal elements (Outdoor)
• The ImmerVision Panomorph Lens displays 30 per cent more than a standard fisheye lens, with maximum view (360° x 180°) (Mini Dome)
• Low-light performance with a Sony CMOS sensor and wide dynamic range (WDR) (Mini Dome)
• Complies with Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) core specifications, versions 1.0 and 2.0
• True day/night functionality with removable infrared-cut filter
• Video Surveillance Manager software at no cost with user, profile, and event management capabilities

On top of the cameras, Linksys has a network video recorder to store the video.

2-Bay Network Video Recorder – LNR0208C – $799.99 MSRP (Shipping February)

Features include:

• Records up to eight video feeds simultaneously with eight separate channels
• 2 Bays tore up to 8 TB on two internal, hot-swappable 4 TB eSata hard drives (not included)
• Remote live view and playback
• Multiple NVR monitoring
• Includes Gigabit Ethernet port, Three USB 2.0 ports
• Provides high performance and throughput at an affordable price point

SMBs and resellers can find a participating distributor at their website: http://www.linksys.com/en-us/business/find-a-distributor 

Linksys announced a new router at CES today that will appeal to both long time Linksys users as well as those who want top end router performance.

The new Linksys WRT1900AC Dual Band Wi-Fi Router is inspired by the original WRT54G iconic blue/black stackable form factor but with a modernized spin as well as more powerful hardware such as a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, four removable antennas (instead of the standard three) and eSata and USB 2.0/3.0 connectivity ports. The four removable, customized and adjustable antennas on the WRT1900AC router provide antenna diversity by enabling the router to use the three best signals out of the four antennas to transmit and receive data. The antenna diversity technology helps provide greater range and coverage compared to a 3-antenna system, so all your connected devices can achieve the best performance wherever they are located. The Linksys Wireless AC 1900 Dual-Band Router is capable of speeds of up to 1.3Gbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.

The new WRT1900AC ships with Linksys Smart Wi-Fi set-up and management tools and will be the first Linksys router to include the Network Map feature. Smart Wi-Fi is a setup and management software tool that gives users access to their connected devices from a browser or mobile app so they can easily manage their home network and optimize their online experiences. Users can access their home network remotely on their iOS or Android smart phone or tablet to check the connection status of their devices, give a guest access to the Internet, or block a child from accessing social networking sites. Linksys is also announcing a new Smart Wi-Fi feature called Network Map on the new WRT1900AC router.  Network Map is a visual topology map that shows all the devices that are connected to the network. Users can simple manage each device by clicking on its icon and change parental control settings, select wireless bands, filter by device type, or even remove devices from the network, plus more.  Network Map provides a simple more graphical way to monitor and manage a home network.

Linksys has also been working with the OpenWRT community to make an open source firmware which is planned to be available for download online at availability in the spring 2014.

The Linksys WRT1900AC Dual Band Wi-Fi router has also been named as an International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the Home Networking product category. The Awards are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, engineers and members of the media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products.

The new Linksys WRT1900AC Dual-Band Wireless-AC Router is planned for availability this spring at an MSRP of $299.99 at Linksys.com and leading online and retail stores.

Now that Belkin owns the Linksys line of networking gear, they’re returning to the small/medium business marketplace with the release of two new product lines:

Linksys Unmanaged Desktop Switches

The new unmanaged Desktop Gigabit Switches include 5, 8, 16 and 24-port versions and 8, 16 and 24-port versions that include PoE.  Features include:

• Gigabit speeds
• Auto-Sensing Ports
• Power Saving Features including
  • Auto power-down disables unused ports
  • Smart Power for short cable runs
  • Port status switch to control LED lights
• Quality of Service (QoS) Traffic Prioritization (on 16 and 24-Port only)
• Power over Ethernet functionality (on PoE versions only) for connecting access points or video surveillance solutions

Linksys Gigabit VPN Routers

The new Linksys LRT series integrates Gigabit firewall, site to site VPN and various remote access VPN technologies into two single solutions.  The LRT Series includes the Gigabit VPN Router and Dual WAN Gigabit VPN Router.  These routers feature:

• 4 Gigabit ports
• Up to 50 IPSec tunnels
• Five OpenVPN tunnels
• Dual-WAN Load Balance and WAN Failover (on LRT244 only)
• Integrated firewall supporting URL filtering and access rules
• 802.1q VLAN tagging
• Port Forwarding, port triggering and Port address translation for 30 devices
• DMZ Port
• DHCP Server
• DNS
• Plus more features that can be found on the Linksys VPN Router pages

The new Linksys switches will be available this month while the new routers will be available in December. Here’s the lineup:

Linksys Unmanaged Switches

• LGS105 – MSRP $49.99
• LGS108 – MSRP $59.99
• LGS116 – MSRP $179.99
• LGS124 – MSRP $229.99

Linksys Unmanaged PoE Switches

• LGS108P – MSRP $179.99
• LGS116P – MSRP $299.99,
• LGS124P – MSRP $449.99  Planned for availability by end of November

Linksys VPN Routers

• LRT214 – MSRP $229.99,  Planned for availability in December
• LRT224 – MSRP $299.99,  Planned for availability in December

It’s good to see Linksys back in a space that they were big players in for two decades.

If you want the latest in terms of networking for your home, Linksys can help you with that. The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1200, model EA6300, and the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1600, model EA6400 have hit the streets. Besides having the ability to be set up via a browser and with Linksys SimpleTap, or via scanning a QR code or NFC tag, and having Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports (The USB ports can be used to share storage devices or printers throughout the home) these new routers are fast:

• Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1600 Video Enthusiast, EA6400 – The dual-band AC1600 is an ideal option for homes with five to seven connected devices. This router has Wi-Fi speeds up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.

• Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC 1200 Advanced Multimedia, EA6300 – Offering up to 867 Mbps on 5 GHz band and up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, the dual-band AC1200 is the ideal fit for a small home with three to five connected devices such as a PC, smartphone and Smart TV.

Besides these new routers, Linksys has the new Mini Wireless-AC Dual-Band USB Adapter the AE6000 hitting the streets as well.

Check out your local retailer as they are available now.

This is the time of year that nerds like me love. CES is on in Las Vegas and new products are announced by the truckload. Linksys today started the ball rolling by announcing three new 802.11ac powered Smart Wi-Fi Routers, a new compact 802.11ac USB adapter, new features and new Smart Wi-Fi Apps. Let’s start from the top:

• Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router AC1200, AC1600 and AC1750. All three of the new dual-band Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers are equipped with the latest 802.11ac technology, offering fast wireless speeds—up to three times the speed of Wireless-N, excellent range and backward compatibility with existing wireless 802.11b/g/n devices. When I say speed, I mean up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and up to 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. All three of the new Linksys routers are also equipped with Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports. The USB ports allow for storage devices such as USB flash drives or hard drives, to be connected to the router.
  
• The Linksys AC 580 USB Wi-Fi Adapter allows consumers to easily upgrade the Wi-Fi in their laptops or computers to 802.11ac and enjoy the benefits of this new technology on existing devices.
• Linksys is also introducing a smart network map, a new Smart Wi-Fi tool that will be free for new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers. The smart network map displays a visual representation of the home network and all of the connected devices to give users valuable information about network connectivity and current bandwidth usage so they can easily control devices, resolve issues, and get the most out of their home network.
• To simplify connecting devices to the network, SimpleTap  is now available with all Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers. SimpleTap simplifies the process of connecting devices to a home network, making it as easy as one touch of a button or a quick tap of a card. With SimpleTap, users can take advantage of Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) in a number of ways such as using the NFC card shipping with all 802.11ac enabled Smart Wi-Fi routers, pushing the physical WPS button on a router or pushing the WPS button in the router’s browser or app interface.
• Finally, there are new apps that will leverage the ability to connect to the storage that can be connected to these routers available in the spring.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Vegas, check them out at CES. Otherwise, you can expect these products to hit the streets in the spring.