Startup Aims Branch-in-a-Box at Small Branches

The BOB, or Branch in a Box, device combines wide area network access, routing, security, voice over IP and other functions in an appliance designed specifically for those functions.

NetDevices on March 6 extended its Branch Office Box, multifunction service gateway to smaller offices when it rolled out a new four-port version of the device.

The BOB, or Branch in a Box, device combines wide area network access, routing, security, voice over IP and other functions in an appliance designed specifically for those functions.

It is intended to help streamline management of IT equipment in remote offices, reduce total cost of ownership and accommodate additional functions as the need arises.

Its design provides for a modular, always live operating system; a third backplane that allows remote IT operators to manage the device even if the main processor is not available; packet processing that allows packets to be examined once for multiple purposes; and programmability to allow more functions to be added.

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NetDevices, which last year released the appliance for the first time in an eight-port version, is targeting smaller branch offices with the new SG-4 Services Gateway. It competes with Cisco Systems Integrated Services Router.

"In a one [rack unit] package, were delivering performance that tops the biggest ISR platform, and even the density of our line cards is greater than Cisco. Its a small box that packs a range of performance and services," said Eric Andrews, senior director of product management at the Sunnyvale, Calif., startup.

The SG-4 Services Gateway, like its eight-port predecessor, provides a Layer 7 firewall, intrusion detection and prevention, a Session Initiation Protocol gateway with Quality of Service for supporting planned voice over IP services, routing, Ethernet switching, IPSec Virtual Private Networking and remote management of all services.

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Line cards for the four-port chassis include a two-slot services adapter with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, a four-port T1/E1 card, a four-port serial card, and an eight-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch.

The new appliance is available now and is priced at $7,990.

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