Network Security - NIC-Based Intrusion Detection Systems

Overview

The goal of an intrusion detection system is to detect inappropriate, incorrect, and unusual activity on a network or on the hosts belonging to a local network by monitoring network activity. To determine if an attack has occurred or if one has been attempted typically requires sifting through huge amounts of data (gathered from the network, host or file system) looking for clues of suspicious activity. There are two general approaches to this problem -- signature detection (also known as misuse detection), where one looks for patterns of well-known attacks, and anomaly detection, that looks for deviations from normal behavior.

Most work on signature and anomaly detection has relied on detecting intrusions at the level of the host processor. A problem with that approach is that even if intrusion activity is detected, one is often unable to prevent the attack from disrupting the system and over utilizing the system CPU (e.g. in the case of denial-of-service attacks).

Network Security - NIC-Based Intrusion Detection Systems

As an alternative to relying on the host's CPU to detect intrusions there is growing interest in utilizing the NIC (network interface card) as part of this process, too. The primary role of NICs in computer systems is to move data between devices on the network. A natural extension to this role would be to actually police the packets forwarded in each direction by examining packet headers and simply not forwarding suspicious packets.

Recently there has been a fair amount of activity in the area of NIC-based computing. Related to the work on NIC-based intrusion detection systems is the use of NICs for firewall security. The idea is to embed firewall-like security at the NIC level. Firewall functionality, such as packet filtering, packet auditing, and support for multi-tiered security levels, has been proposed and, actually, commercialized in 3Com's embedded firewall.

Rationale

The rationale for coupling NIC-based intrusion detection with conventional host-based intrusion detection is based on the following points:

· Functions such as signature- and anomaly-based packet classification can be performed on the NIC, which has its own processor and memory. This makes it virtually impossible to bypass or to tamper with (as compared with software-based systems that rely on the host operating system).

· If the host is loaded with other programs running simultaneously (with the intrusion detection software), then an intrusion detection system that relies on host processing may be slowed down, thereby adversely affecting the bandwidth available for network transmissions. A NIC-based strategy will not be affected by the load on the host.

· With centralized intrusion detection systems one encounters a problem associated with scalability -- however, this is not the case with NIC-based intrusion detection. Each individual NIC can handle the in-bound and out-bound traffic of the particular processor/local area network it is connected with, thus effectively distributing the work load.

· NIC-based strategies provide better coverage and functional separation since internal NICs can detect portscans while NICs at the firewall can detect host-scans.

· The NIC-based scheme is flexible, dynamically adaptive, and can work in conjunction with existing host-based intrusion detection systems. The host-based intrusion detection system can download new rules/signatures into the NIC on the fly, making the detection process adaptive.

The Challenge

The current disadvantage to NIC-based intrusion detection is that processing capability on the NIC is much slower and the memory sub-system is much smaller when compared with the host. The task of implementing algorithms on the NIC presents several new challenges. For example, NICs typically are not capable of performing floating point operations. As a result, algorithms implemented for the NIC are forced to resort to estimates based on fixed-point operations. There is also a need to limit the impact on bandwidth and latency for normal, non-intrusive messages. So, the challenge becomes how best to use the NIC's processing capabilities for intrusion detection.

IDS Algorithms

There are two general approaches to the problem of intrusion detection: signature detection (also known as misuse detection), where one looks for patterns that signal well-known attacks, and anomaly detection, that looks for deviations from normal behavior. Signature detection works reliably on known attacks, but has the obvious disadvantage of not being able to detect new attacks. Though anomaly detection can detect novel attacks, it has the drawback of not being able to discern intent. It can only signal that some event is unusual, but not necessarily hostile, thus generating false alarms.

Signature detection methods are better understood and widely applied. They are used in both host based systems, such as virus detectors, and in network based systems such as SNORT and BRO. These systems use a set of rules encoding knowledge gleaned from security experts to test files or network traffic for patterns known to occur in attacks. A limitation of these systems is that as new vulnerabilities or attacks are discovered, the rule set must be manually updated. Another disadvantage is that minor variations in attack methods can often defeat such systems.

Anomaly detection is a harder problem than signature detection because while signatures of attacks can be very precise, what is considered normal is more abstract and ambiguous. Rather than finding rules that characterize attacks, one attempts to find rules that characterize normal behavior. Since what is considered normal could vary across different environments, a distinct model of normalcy can be learned individually. Much of the research in anomaly detection uses the approach of modeling normal behavior from a (presumably) attack-free training set. Because we cannot predict all possible non-hostile behavior, false alarms are inevitable. Researchers found that when a vulnerable UNIX system program or server is attacked (for example, using a buffer overflow to open a root shell), that the program makes sequences of system calls that differ from the sequences found under normal operation.

Current network anomaly detection systems such as NIDES , ADAM , and SPADE model only features of the network and transport layer, such as port numbers, IP addresses, and TCP flags. Models built with these features could detect probes (such as port scans) and some denial of service (DOS) attacks on the TCP/IP stack, but would not detect attacks of the type where the exploit code is transmitted to a public server in the application payload. Most current anomaly detectors use a stationary model, where the probability of an event depends on its average rate during training, and does not vary with time. While most research in intrusion detection has focused on either signature detection or anomaly detection, most researchers have realized that the two models must work hand-in-hand to be most effective.

Results

The quantitative improvements that were observed for NIC-based IDS when tested against Host-based IDS can be attributed to the fact the operating system of the host does not have to be interrupted with the detection process. Thus on heavily loaded hosts admissible network traffic proceeds at a consistent rate provided the computational and memory resources of the NIC are not stretched. The benefit of having the NIC do the policing is that it can actually prevent network-based intrusions from wrecking havoc on host systems -- since the intrusive packet, if caught, never reaches the host operating system. In effect, the NIC acts as a basic shield for the host. If the NIC cannot catch up with the rate the packets are arriving, it can begin dropping the packets as this may be indicative of a denial-of-service attack. If the NIC were to become overwhelmed by a such an attack, the host would be spared from it. It is preferable to sacrifice only the NIC to the attack rather than the entire host machine. However, from a technology perspective we are not far away from 1GHz NIC processors (with appropriately larger memory). With those projected systems one can anticipate that NIC-based intrusion detection will do better both from a quantitative standpoint and from a a qualitative standpoint (as less restrictive and more robust algorithms may be employed).

Final Comments

Last year CyberGuard Corp. announced the availability of the SnapGear PCI635, an embedded firewall network card that fits into standard peripheral slots in PC desktops and servers. The card allows deployment of advanced network security functions, such as virtual private network and firewall and intrusion detection, that protect individual servers and desktops from internal and external threats. The PCI635 can also be configured to prevent desktop users from tampering with security settings, further reducing the threat of security breaches from people on the internal network.

Because this is a NIC-based firewall/VPN/IDS device that is independent of the host, the PCI635 makes the desktop system immune to Windows vulnerability exploits. This is important since software-based security solutions can be rendered useless if the OS is exploited, compromising the computer and potentially the internal network. The intrusion detection system (IDS) is based on Snort and increases security by identifying known security attacks.

Network Security - NIC-Based Intrusion Detection Systems
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Global Vacations Network Scam - Is it One?

Global Vacations has been around for a long time. You can join them and have the ability to take luxury vacations and also sell memberships to others to make money. It is also called Global Resorts Network or GRN. There are many people that have made significant incomes with GRN.

The main issue with this type of opportunity is that it costs thousands of dollars. In the current recession/depression economy, it is increasingly difficult to find people that can spend 00 to join a home business opportunity. Marketing products that cost thousands of dollars is a great way to make a fabulous income quickly, but more people fail at those types of businesses than succeed and you end up with people feeling like you "scammed" them if you are the one that signed them up.

There is not a Global Vacations Network scam, but there are many people that failed that may feel like they were scammed. The truth is that they failed in that business because they were not able to effectively market the product and convert the leads they gathered into sales. GRN offers its members awesome tools to market the business, but many people just don't put forth the effort to stick with something to get to the point where they start to succeed.

Global Vacations Network Scam - Is it One?

That said, in today's economy it is much easier to market a consumable product at a lower price point. Network marketing companies are thriving today because more people are concerned about the stability of their employers or the safety of their 401k's. When people are concerned about their financial future, it is much easier to get them to look at a home business than it would be in more prosperous times.

Home network marketing businesses that have a solid product that people want, that is consumable and that interest you are probably one of the best home businesses that you could start. Joining a "high ticket" program like GRN is only advisable if you have a significant amount of time and/or a decent marketing budget to put into your business to get it to the point where you really make a significant income.

Perhaps the biggest key to success in any business that you join online is that your sponsor or their team has strong training and leadership. More people fail from having a lack of tools or inspirational leadership than for any other reason. Marketing online is not hard, but unless you know what you are doing you will flounder and spend your marketing dollars in ineffective ways.

If you don't have a significant marketing budget, then you need to learn how to use free or low cost marketing methods. These methods are very effective, but many of them require a significant effort and have a learning curve. If you have the time to put into a home business, the free methods of marketing are the most effective and provide significant gratification to people that use them.

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Your VPN Doctor for Virtual Private Network Troubleshooting VPN Guide

Here are some troubleshooting guides for particular topics.

(1) Your Virtual Network Connection

(2) VPN Troubleshooting Error Messages

Your VPN Doctor for Virtual Private Network Troubleshooting VPN Guide

(3) VPN Modems Troubleshooting Guide

(4) VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide.

(1) Your Virtual Private Network Connection

Having trouble connecting to the Internet at home try these steps before calling for help.

1. Do you have an IP address? Try ipconfig /all. If you do not have an IP address reboot your PC. If that doesn't work power cycle your Cable/DSL modem and routers and reboot your PC again after the network devices are up and stable. Be sure all of your network cables are plugged in tight.

2. After your PC reboots check that your network adapter is active and packets are flowing. Perform the ipconfig /all check again.

3. Check your connectivity by pinging several Internet sites. If that does not work, ping the loopback address 127.0.0.1. If that fails, your adapter may not be working or it is not properly configured.

To check your IP address. From command prompt enter ipconfig /all (as shown in the picture) you should see an IP Address and several DNS Server addresses. The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated into IP addresses and is required for browsing the Internet.

Ping 127.0.0.1 - loopback Test (as shown in the picture). The loopback test is used to check if the IP stack is responding. If it times out or you get an error the problem may occur if any one or more of the following conditions is true:

*The TCP drivers are corrupted

*The network adapter is not working

*Another service is interfering with IP

Check your network adapter, click the Start menu, Settings, Control Panel, and select Network Connections. Double click on the Local Area Connection or the Wireless Adapter whichever one you are using. Be sure its Connected. If you have multiple network cards disable the one you are not using.

There should be Packets displayed in both the Sent and Received counters. If the Received counter is 0 check that the adapter has an IP address. Select Properties.

Click the check boxes for Show icon and Notify me below. A twin PC icon will appear on the lower right portion of the taskbar in the tray area and will flash while sending and receiving packets. You can place your mouse over the icon to get the status and click on it to get more details.

Tracert displays the connection path to the target location and the number of hops. Each hop is the trip from one router to another. Tracert is a handy tool both for understanding where problems are in the network and for determining latency between hops.

Ping is used to determine whether a host exists and is active on the network and can determine the round trip time to the device. You can enter a host name or an IP address if you know it. If the request times out then the host is not reachable because it's offline or there is a problem with the connection. Try several sites, if none work then ping the loopback address 127.0.0.1 Also, if your DNS is not working or properly configured you can only ping the host with an IP address and you will not be able to browse the Internet.

If you are having intermittent problems, perform a ping -t for 5 to 6 minutes then hit CTRL C to see the results of the test to determine if you are dropping network packets (lost packets). If you are, this usually indicates an ISP problem or Cable/DSL modem problem. See VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide

(2) VPN Troubleshooting Error Messages

Q1 Error Message: Remote Host not responding: or Unable to Resolve the IP address of the Remote Server

Cause: This indicates that the Contivity VPN Switch never responded to the connection attempt. The problem could either be with the Contivity switch itself, (switch may be down) or your machine may be having a problem resolving the IP address.

Action: Try pinging your destination name (Example: VPN.something.com). If you received a message that says "Request Timed Out" from the ping command, call your ISP to make sure that their DNS is functioning correctly.

Q2 Error Message: Maximum number of sessions reached

Cause: This indicates that the maximum number of users for the account you are using are currently logged on.

Action: If you are the only user with VPN to your account, it is possible to get this error if you restarted a connection immediately after losing the dial-up connection to your ISP. This is because the Contivity VPN Switch takes up to one hour to determine that your connection has been dropped and log you off from your account.

Q3 Error Message: Login failed, Please consult the switch log for further information

Cause: The User Name or the Password is incorrect for the user name entered.

Action: Verify that the User Name you entered is correct and retype the Password before trying the connection again.

Q4 Error Message: The physical connection has been lost

Cause: Your connection to your ISP was disconnected.

Action: Re-establish your connection to your ISP before you re-establish the Contivity connection to the remote network.

Q5 Error Message: The secure Contivity connection has been lost

This message can result due to a number of different reasons, and there are several recommended actions you can take to try and re-connect.

Cause(s):

If you receive this error before the client connects then something is blocking a necessary port (such as ESP port 50). This can result if your firewall is not configured properly and is restricting the necessary port(s).

If you receive this error during a connection and you suddenly get the error it may mean one of the following:

1. Something closed the connection;

2. The VPN Contivity switch where you were trying to connect to thought your client was down or timed out;

3. Your local ISP did something that interrupted your network connection long enough for the VPN Contivity switch to identify your client was not responding;

4. The VPN Contivity switch that you are connected to has either logged your connection off or the Switch is no longer responding, or a device that does not support IPSEC NAT Traversal is causing the connection failure.

Action(s):

1. Try re-establishing the Contivity connection by clicking the Connect button. If this works, the connection was probably lost due to the Idle Timeout configured on the Contivity VPN Switch. If no data is transferred through the Contivity connection for a long period of time, 15 minutes or more, the Contivity VPN Switch automatically disconnects the connection;

2. If you were unable to successfully re-establish the Contivity Connection, the dial-up connection may be preventing data from traveling between the Contivity VPN Client and the Contivity VPN Switch. Hang up the dial-up connection and reconnect before you try to re-establish a connection to the Contivity VPN Switch;

3. If you are still unable to connect to the Contivity VPN Switch, open a Command Prompt and try pinging the Contivity VPN Switch using the host name or address that you specified in the Destination field.

(a) If you receive a "Destination Unreachable error" there is a routing problem at the ISP.

(b) If you receive a "Request Timed Out" error message, the Contivity VPN Switch is probably not available, and you should contact your Network Administrator.

4. If you keep getting this message and are unable to connect, then it may indicate that the Contivity VPN Switch is unable to communicate with the client because it is behind some kind of NAT (Network Address Translation) device. NAT (Network Address Translation) Traversal allows a number of devices on a private network to access the Internet simultaneously without each requiring its own external IP address. Most hotels and airports that provide Internet connectivity use NAT to connect to the Internet.

Q6 Error Message: Cannot Alter Routing Table

Cause: Message means the you the user, an application on your machine, or your ISP attempted to change the routing table via an ICMP redirect attempt and it was not successful. The client detects the attempt to make the change, determines it's a security breach and shuts down the client's connection. Any time you make a VPN connection, you cannot change the routing table, because the VPN Client views this as a security risk and you will get disconnected.

Some applications require an ICMP redirection in order to work such as a game or other third party software.

Action: If you receive this error and cant connect due to an ICMP redirect attempt, shut down any other applications you are using which may be causing the ICMP redirect attempt. If it is the ISP that is doing it, you will need to block the ICMP redirect request. You can identify that ICMP redirect has occurred, by seeing a message saying there has been an IP address routing table change.

Q7 Error Message: Receiving Banner Text Information

Cause: Message means you are experiencing a Banner Sock issue, and will see a window displaying the "Receiving Banner Text" message and then gets disconnected.

Actions:

1. Disable the firewall completely to test. This is a port 500 issue and often means that the you have a personal Firewall that is blocking port 500 or you have a router that does not support IPSEC pass-through, and the you are connecting to a VPN switch that does not have NAT Traversal enabled.

2. If using wireless, temporarily remove Wireless from the picture and focus on the Ethernet card. Check the Ethernet card speed and duplex parameters and then make sure that the hub, switch, or router that is on the other end has the same parameters. If not, the VPN connection will drop as the link goes up and down, or due to a large number of errors on the port from a duplex and or speed mismatch.

3. Firewall that blocks the connection, such that system will crash. (This will rarely happen) NSDF (Norton Symantec Desktop Firewall) and NSPF (Norton Symantec Personal Firewall) can do this though, if you do not trust the IP address of the VPN connection.

If you do not trust the VPN address of the VPN client, the firewall will cause you to crash. In your Internet browser click on "Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted Sites > Sites" and add the destination VPN address(es) to your trusted sites.

Q8 Error Message: You already have the maximum number of adapters installed

Cause: You may have installed to many virtual adapters in your IP Stack

Actions:

1. Remove any unnecessary adapters;

2. Create multiple boot scenarios disabling the adapters that are not required for that function;

3. You may also get Banner Sock errors on Win 95 & 98 units with this condition;

4. For more information, see this Microsoft article: KB217744: Unable to Bind Protocols to More Than 5 Network Adapters (copy and paste into the search tool bar > enter).

Q9 Upgrade Errors: The following are some errors that may occur when trying to upgrade / install the Nortel VPN Client 4.65

Error (1): Failed to get Registry key value for NT_IPSECSHM

Cause: This is caused because an important registry key that cannot be found in the system registry.

Actions:

1. Uninstall and Reinstall the VPN Software

Error (2): Login Failure due to: Driver Failure

Cause: This is generally caused by either not having Admin rights to the PC or by trying to install/use a Nortel VPN client that predates the operating system.

Actions:

1. Ensure that you have admin rights to the PC.

2. Update/Install the most current version of the Nortel VPN client.

Error (3): Create socket failed with 10048.

Cause: This problem generally will occur whenever you have another VPN client software installed on the system. The most noted conflicting clients are: AOL, Cisco VPN Client(s), SSH Sentinel and PGP.

Actions:

1. Removing these clients will in most cases, resolve the issue.

(3) VPN Modems Troubleshooting Guide

Q1 Are Cable Modems supported for VPN Access?

Yes, you can use cable modems for VPN access. However you must be aware of the following conditions and be able to work within them:

*Some cable modems require that you log into an NT network to get authenticated.

*Some cable modems use a client similar to the Extranet Client for VPN and both will not run at the same time.

*Some cable modem Contracts/Acceptable Use Policies specify that you cannot use them for business purposes or they want to charge you another fee to use them for business purposes. Make sure you read your contract thoroughly.

*Your Cable modem provider is your ISP. Please see the VPN-connection-guide.html">ISP Troubleshooting Guide for more information.

Q2 Why does my modem seem to perform erratically?

Always make sure that you do not let the operating system select a generic modem. If required, go to the appropriate web site for the vendor of the modem and get the updated INF file so that the proper parameters are configured for the modem.

Q3 Why do I always seem to get a slower connection speed than others with the same modem?

1. Always check the modem configuration to verify that its maximum speed has been selected.

2. It is common when auto-installing modems that the highest speed is not selected automatically.

3. Do not check the box that says run at maximum speed only.

Q4 I plugged my modem into the phone line at the hotel or customers office and now it does not work.

Always make sure that the phone line you are plugging into when visiting somewhere is an analog line not a digital one. Plugging into a digital line can permanently damage your modem, requiring a replacement unit. To avoid these situations please contact the local site phone support personnel.

Q5 Why cant I get a 56Kb V.90 connection from some locations that I go to?

Here are some of the reasons why you might not get a 56K connection:

1. You are located more than 3 ½ miles from your telephone companys central office (CO).

2. A SLICK or Subscriber Loop System is used in your area.

3. You are calling from a digital PBX system, which creates a Digital to Analog conversion and then an Analog to Digital conversion.

4. Your line contains digital pads or Robbed Bit Signaling (RBS), which can degrade your connection speeds.

5. Your wiring may be of poor quality.

6. Your modem's firmware may not be up-to-date. Check that your modem has the newest V.90 code installed with all the patches from the vendor's web site.

Q6 Why cant I get higher speed on my 56K v.90 modem into some NAG?

Here are some possible reasons:

1. A 56k v.90 modem is asymmetric by design where download speed can be as much as 56k but upload speed will be up to 33.6bps. For 56k to work, there must be only one analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion in your local phone loop. Thus when modems at both ends are analogue, 56k speeds will never be achieved as most PSTN exchanges run digital routing between the exchanges.

2. Some NAG sites use analog phone lines with Cisco and standard 56k modems, and most PC's dial-ups use a similar modem. Between the two modems, it limits the download speed to about 33.6kbps maximum.

3. Also, many users might experience lower connection speeds due to other reasons, such as more poor line quality. These factors will also contribute to the quality and speed of the line.

(4) VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide

Q1 If you are getting the message "Unable to Resolve the IP address of the Remote Server. Verify the Host Name in the destination field is correct." when trying to connect with the Extranet Client.

Try pinging your destination name (Example: VPN.something.com) and if it fails call your ISP to make sure that their DNS is functioning correctly.

Q2 Why do I get No Domain Available when dialing my ISP?

On your Internet Service Providers (ISP) dial connection. Right click the mouse and select the properties button. Click on the Server Type tab and make sure that the Log On To Network box is unchecked.

Q3 Why do I seem to be running slowly through my VPN connection?

Try turning off the Software Compression option on your Internet Service Providers (ISP) dial connection as the VPN client has it's own compression. Right click the mouse and select the properties button. Click on the Server Type tab and uncheck the

Q4 I keep getting busy signals when trying to connect to my ISP, what should I do?

Contact your ISP giving the numbers you are trying to connect to. Many times you will find that can give you an alternate number not published yet that will work just fine. If not you may need to find another ISP that provides better service.

Q5 When configuring the dial icon for my ISP what should I put in the DNS/WINS settings?

Your ISP should supply you with the DNS/WINS settings of your dial connection. Most only give you DNS, in this case just leave the WINS settings blank.

Q6 Why when I load the Extranet Client on my PC and Winpoet is installed on my machine it crashes or does not work properly?

There are issues running Winpoet software on the PC with the Nortel Extranet (VPN) Client.

To repair your system, boot in safe mode and uninstall the Winpoet Software.

A simple solution is to install the Linksys BEFSR41 hardware router. It has a firmware PPPOE connector, which eliminates Winpoet from the PC and provides the added benefit a NAT firewall with the ability to hook up to three other PCs.

A second option is to find a PPPOE Client that does not interfere with VPN Clients.

Please See Your VPN Doctor for Picture Guide and further Details.

Need a Qiuck Fix, Tool, Trick or Tip? Your VPN Doctor has the Cure!

Your VPN Doctor for Virtual Private Network Troubleshooting VPN Guide
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Amway Business Review - Who is Asking You to Join?

Amway Business, or the American Way, as it's proudly called, needs no introduction. It's one of the best known MLM companies with branches in over 80 countries with over 450 products and revenue of over billion. More than three million people share the Amway vision as distributors or IBOs. Because of its global reach and the comprehensive range of products, Amway global has found many takers, both as customers as well as distributors all over the world. This article's aim is to explore the business opportunity offered by Amway Global and see if it's as good as it's made out to be.

· The Amway Story

1950s': Jay Van Andel and Rich De Vos launched Amway in 1959 in Ada, Michigan following their stint with marketing nutrilite products. They were impressed with the response they got from network marketing and started the business with a Multi-Purpose Cleaner, Amway's first product (L.O.C).

Amway Business Review - Who is Asking You to Join?

1960s': The product as well the marketing scheme was an instant success and within the next decade, Amway had grown into a 0000 business with over 200 products.

1970s': This was when the company established its global identity to reach Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Tokyo.

1980s': This decade saw the launch of the Artistry range of products that catered to skin care and improvement.

From then on, the success of Amway continued to make the business a multibillion-dollar global association.

· Amway Products

Amway has different products catering to home needs, skin and oral care, hair and body care, nutrition and weight management. Amway's best selling product is the Nutrilite range of health supplements. Products of Amway are said to be manufactured with pure ingredients and this company has been promoting "green" products right from its first product launch.

· The Amway Business Opportunity

This company's been around for 50 years and has over 3 million distributors. This makes Amway seem like a good business to join and build a business with. But let's first look at the income opportunity and see how profitable the business actually is and what kind of potential it has as a money maker.

- Compensation plan

Generate income through mark ups on sale of products, get bonuses on monthly targets and earn perks and cash awards for group performance.

The Amway business opportunity is more a way of life than a career. The company trains IBOs on the process of selling and educates them about the product.

- Why Amway Business?

Amway products are good to use and stylish to market. The compensation plan is good and the company is well established with a good history and global reach. Amway products are needed for day to day use; so there's good scope for marketing.

- Problems?

A typical Amway distributor joins the company and is given product education and training on how to market the product; they are taught to offer cliches to customers who are mostly friends and relatives of the rep. This should induce the customer to buy a product or two and maybe even become an affiliate. Then they gather contacts or leads from such customers and contact them with requests for a meeting.

This technique could have worked wonders a few years back; but now everyone's weary of such marketing methods. There are common jokes when grown adults get together that it might be some type of Amway meeting. It's difficult to even get an appointment to meet people in this hurried world. And competition in Amway is extremely high. It's just not enough to sell a few products to people you know if you want to reach the top and get real earnings.

- Solution

This is an age where internet plays a pivotal role. Going online with your Amway business is sure to bring about a revolution in your venture. Learn how to tap leads through the internet, obtain contacts and promote your products online. Offer a click to buy solution to enable potential customers to buy Amway products from you with minimum effort. Your first step should be to learn best online marketing techniques that are guaranteed to get results yet not so popular that they are hackneyed.

Amway Business Review - Who is Asking You to Join?
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What is the Difference Between Network IP Cameras and Analog CCTV Cameras?

If you are considering installing a new video surveillance system, or expanding your existing video surveillance system, you might want to consider installing, or upgrading to a network IP video system. A network video surveillance system offers you a number of improvements over a traditional CCTV video system, like better image quality and lower cost to own and maintain.

A network IP system runs off a local area network, or LAN, which connects computers by ethernet. You access each camera like it was it's own computer, because it has it's own network IP address. You can control this camera from anywhere in the world and it makes for easier use than a traditional analog CCTV video system.

For years, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video surveillance systems were the only choice for video surveillance of your home or business. At first, the images from analog cameras were transmitted through cables to a quad, or monitor for viewing. With the advent of the Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), you were finally able to record the video to a VHS tape for future viewing. However, if you had to actually find an instance of needing the video for law enforcement, it required watching, or fast forwarding through hours of video.

What is the Difference Between Network IP Cameras and Analog CCTV Cameras?

This advanced to using a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) or DVR card in a computer to convert the analog video signals to digital formats. Then the video can be recorded to a hard disc, or burned to a DVR. They were still closed systems using CCTV cameras that were viewable only by the administrators of the surveillance system. Recent advancements have allowed those DVR's to have the ability to connect to the Internet, so you can remotely view the cameras from any Internet accessible computer or smart phone. The problems are that the cameras are still analog and the system is far from perfect.

While Network IP Cameras have been around since the mid-1990's, they were originally not as good as professional analog cameras. The allowed digital imaging, networking, and storage, though they were usually web-cams that let you view a tiny, grainy image over the Internet, or a local area network.

The times have changed; technology and IP technology have married up with the digital camera, to create the ultimate video surveillance system. IP network capable cameras have caught up with analog camera technology, and now exceed the quality of the video from traditional CCTV cameras.

The main benefits of an Network IP based video surveillance system is:

A complete digital solution, no need for DVR's or DVR cards. Ease of set-up, no video cables to run. Power the camera over your LAN, no power cables to run. Pan-Tilt-Zoom is built in, no need for additional hardware. 2-way audio is built in, now you can hear and talk to the person. Interlace problems are eliminated in high resolution cameras. The video is secure, and can be easily scalled as you needs grow.

These are the main advantages of a network surveillance system over an analog surveillance system, so you can make an educated decision before you purchase a new system, or upgrade an existing CCTV based system. You should know that IP cameras are more expensive then CCTV cameras, as they are considered a little computer by the network, and have the digitizing hardware built in.

The cost of installing a network IP camera system starts to pay for itself after 8 cameras, as you have a decreased labor cost due to no video cable to run, you just hook up a switch to a local area network and run your IP cameras off that.

What is the Difference Between Network IP Cameras and Analog CCTV Cameras?
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How to Install a Network Printer in Windows 7?

How can I install a Network printer in Windows 7? A few days ago, I installed a Windows 7 7246 x86 operating system for my PC. After that I tried to add a network printer which had already connected to another Windows XP machine. I tried it several times but all my efforts failed and my Windows 7 PC could not share this HP Laser Jet 5100 Le printer with the Windows XP PC.

I was unable to open the setup program I installed from the driver setup disk because the system prompted that it had an unknown error. Since I could not install this driver, I copied its INF files from the disk and then began to add a network printer. Though my PC could automatically find out this device and install the driver, it was still unable to perform the connection. Then I downloaded and installed its official Windows Vista driver form the website, but the error went on. I tried some of the HP printer's universal drivers, but they still didn't work. Finally, I found the solution.

Here is my solution:

How to Install a Network Printer in Windows 7?

Step 1 Go to Start - Devices and Printers.

Step 2 Select Add a printer and then add a local printer.

Step 3 Select the item called Choose a printer port - Create a new port - local port.

Step 4 Behind Enter a port name input the IP address and the name of your network printer, for example, 192.168.1.10HplaserJ.2 or mypcprinter. Then click Next.

Step 5 You can select either Windows update or Hard disk to install printer driver. If you choose Windows update, Windows will install a driver for you automatically; if you choose Hard disk, insert the setup disk and follow its wizard to finish the installation.

Additionally, if you think it is a bother to find out the compatible driver in the above methods, you also can try some driver tools. The latest version of PC Driver Helper also can support Windows 7, and with the largest driver database in the industry it can automatically install the best printer driver for your Windows 7 machine.

How to Install a Network Printer in Windows 7?
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Best Satellite TV Service - DirecTV Or Dish Network?

If you're looking for the best satellite TV service you want a company that gives you the most channels, the best equipment, the best customer service, and the best deal.

Here's a comparison of the two U.S. providers - DirecTV and Dish Network - that will show you which one is the best...

Most Channels

Best Satellite TV Service - DirecTV Or Dish Network?

Dish Network has more than 350 satellite TV channels and 200 channels that are broadcast in HD (high definition). They also have 52 of their own commercial-free music channels, 60 Sirius satellite radio channels, and offer 75 pay-per-view movies a month.

Dish Network has 20 International channels - African, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

DirecTV has more than 250 television channels and 160 channels that are broadcast in HD. They also have 9 Sonic Tap music channels, 57 XM satellite radio channels, and they offer 60 pay-per-view movies a month.

DirecTV has 14 international channels - Arabic, Brazilian, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, Greek, Italian, Korean, Polish, Russian, South Asian, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

Best Equipment

When you order a Dish Network program package you get a free satellite dish, free receivers, and free universal remote controls. Professional installation is free in up to 6 rooms, and your installer will show you how to operate your system.

Dish Network gives you the option of getting a free HD receiver for HD broadcasts, a free DVR receiver so you can record up to 200 hours of your favorite shows, or a free combination HD/DVR receiver. Their dish and receivers are all state-of-the-art.

DirecTV will also give you a free satellite dish, receivers, and universal remotes. Professional installation is free in up to 4 rooms, and your installer will show you how to operate your system.

With DirecTV you also have the option of ordering a free HD receiver, a free DVR receiver that records up to 100 hours of programming, or and HD/DVR receiver. However, in order to get these receivers you must order a higher-priced program package. DirecTV's equipment is also state-of-the-art.

Best Customer Service

The American Customer Service Index rates Dish Network number one in customer service among all the U.S. cable and satellite TV companies, while DirecTV comes in at number two.

Best Deal

Dish Network's cheapest package is .99 a month. This package has 120+ channels, free HBO and Showtime for 3 months, 35 music channels, and includes your local channels.

DirecTV's cheapest package is .99 a month. This package has 150+ channels, 48 music channels, and includes your local channels.

And The Winner Is...

As you can see by the above comparison, Dish Network is the clear winner when it comes to having the most channels, the best equipment, the best customer service, and the best deal on programming.

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Visit http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com/compare-satellite-tv-providers.htm or click on the following link for more information on who's got the best satellite TV service, plus where to get the best deal. You can also order satellite TV service online or by phone.

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Network Design Process - Effective Network Planning and Design

Overview

The network planning and design methodology describes a process with 9 specific steps and a sequence for those activities. As mentioned it is an engineering life cycle that supports technical initiatives such as Windows migration, IP telephony and wireless design to name a few examples. The methodology begins with examining company business requirements. It is absolutely essential that you understand the company business model, business drivers and how they are growing from a business perspective. That will build the foundation for a design proposal that serves the business, technical and operational requirements of the company.

STEP 1: BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS

Network Design Process - Effective Network Planning and Design

Any design project starts with an understanding of what the company does and what they need to accomplish from a business perspective. This begins with an understanding of their business model, which really describes how their company works from an operational and business perspective to generate revenues and reduce costs. Many vendors today have conducted their own return on investment (ROI) studies for new implementations such as Unified Communications and Telephony. It is an effective sales tool that illustrates the cost benefits compared with investment over a specified period of time.

This is a list of some typical business drivers:

• Reduce Operating Costs

• Generate Revenue

• Client Satisfaction

• Employee Productivity

This is a list of some typical project business requirements:

• Budget Constraints

• Office Consolidations

• Company Mergers and Acquisitions

• Business Partner Connectivity

• Telecommuter Remote Access

• Implement New Offices and Employees

• New Data Center Applications

• Reduce Network Outage Costs

• Cost Effective Network Management

• Vendor Contracts

STEP 2: DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

Now that you understand the basic business requirements of the company, you can determine the standard and specific design requirements. The design requirements process is focused on defining requirements from a technical perspective. Those requirements along with the business requirements will build the framework that is used to define infrastructure, security and management. Design requirements are defined as standard and miscellaneous. The standard design requirements are generic and represent those considered with many design projects. Miscellaneous requirements are those that aren't defined with any of the standard requirements.

Standard Design Requirements

• Performance

• Availability

• Scalability

• Standards Compatibility

• Rapid Deployment

STEP 3: NETWORK ASSESSMENT

A network assessment is conducted after we have finished the business and design requirements of the company. A network assessment provides a quick snapshot of the current network with an examination of the infrastructure, performance, availability, management and security. That information is utilized for making effective strategy recommendations and design proposals to the client concerning specific information systems modifications. The network assessment model has 3 sequential activities, which are assessment, analysis and recommendations. The current network is examined using five primary surveys: infrastructure, performance, availability, management and security. When the surveys are completed, the information collected is then reviewed for trends, problems and issues that are negatively affecting the network.

STEP 4: INFRASTRUCTURE SELECTION

After doing an network assessment we are ready to start selecting specific infrastructure components for the network design. This phase starts building the infrastructure with a specific sequence that promotes effective equipment selection and design. It is important that you consider business requirements, design requirements and the network assessment when building your infrastructure.

The following numbered list describes the specific infrastructure components and their particular sequence.

1. Enterprise WAN Topology

2. Campus Topology

3. Traffic Model

4. Equipment Selection

5. Circuits

6. Routing Protocol Design

7. Addressing

8. Naming Conventions

9. IOS Services

10. Domain Name Services

11. DHCP Services

STEP 5: SECURITY STRATEGY

We must now define a security strategy for securing the infrastructure. The need for enterprise network security shouldn't be ignored with the proliferation of the Internet. Companies are continuing to leverage the public infrastructure for connecting national and international offices, business partners and new company acquisitions. The security requirements and network assessment recommendations should drive the selection of security equipment, protocols and processes. It identifies what assets must be protected, what users are allowed access and how those assets will be secured.

STEP 6: NETWORK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

This section will define a network management strategy for managing all equipment defined from infrastructure and security. It is necessary to define how the equipment is going to be monitored and determine if the current management strategy is adequate or if new applications, equipment, protocols and processes must be identified. Management components are then integrated with infrastructure and security to finish building the proposed design. These primary elements comprise any well-defined management strategy and should be considered when developing your strategy.

• 7 Management Groups

• SNMP Applications

• Monitored Devices and Events

STEP 7: PROOF OF CONCEPT

All infrastructure, security and management components must now be tested with a proof of concept plan. It is important to test the current design, configuration and IOS versions in a non-production environment or on the production network with limited disruption. Implementation of newer network modules at a router, for instance, could require that you change the current IOS version that is implemented. Making those changes could affect WAN or campus modules already installed at production routers. That is the real value of doing a proof of concept and certifying that the new equipment and IOS versions integrate with each device as well as the network. The following list describes the advantages of doing a proof of concept with your network design. The proof of concept test results should be examined and used to modify current infrastructure, security and management specifications before generating a design proposal. The proof of concept model suggested here involves prototype design, equipment provisioning, defining tests, building equipment scripts and examining test results.

1. Prototype Design

2. Provision Equipment

3. Define Tests

4. Build Equipment Scripts

5. Review Test Results

STEP 8: DESIGN PROPOSAL/REVIEW

With the proof of concept finished, you are now ready to build a design proposal for the design review meeting. Your intended audience could be the Director, CIO, CTO, Senior Network Engineer, Consultant or anyone that is approving a budget for the project. It is important to present your ideas with clarity and professionalism. If a presentation is required, power point slides work well and could be used to support concepts from the design proposal document. The focus is on what comprises a standard design proposal and the sequence for presenting that information.

The working design proposal is presented to the client after addressing any concerns from proof of concept assurance testing. The design review is an opportunity for you to present your design proposal to the client and discuss any issues. It is an opportunity for the client to identify concerns they have and for the design engineer to clarify issues. The focus is to agree on any modifications, if required, and make changes to the infrastructure, security and management before implementation starts. Business and design requirements can change from when the project started which sometimes will necessitate changes to infrastructure, security and management specifications. Any changes should then go through proof of concept testing again before final changes to the design proposal.

STEP 9: IMPLEMENTATION

The final step will have us defining an implementation process for the specified design. This describes a suggested implementation methodology of the proposed design, which should have minimal disruption to the production network. As well it should be efficient and as cost effective as possible. As with previous methodologies there is a sequence that should be utilized as well.

Once the implementation is finished, there is monitoring of the network for any problems. Design and configuration modifications are then made to address any problems or concerns. The Book Network Planning and Design Guide, is available at amazon.com and ebookmall.com

Copyright 2006 Shaun Hummel All Rights Reserved

Network Design Process - Effective Network Planning and Design
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Shaun Hummel is the author of Network Planning and Design Guide and http://www.ciscodesignbooks.com featuring Networking Books, eBooks, Certifications, Articles and Design Tools.

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Attraction Network Marketing Secrets - How to Recruit Prospects Into Your MLM Company the Easy Way

If you have joined a network marketing company in the past you have most likely heard the following.

1. Go to your warm market and prospect all your friends, family, and neighbors.
2. Share your business opportunity with anyone and everyone (3 foot rule).
3. Purchase Business Opportunity Leads and make cold calls.
4. Go to all the major events that your company sponsors
5. Get on the autoship program
6. Follow our easy to use system and you will be rich
7. Our company is the best and has the best compensation plan
8. Just start talking to people about our company and people will be excited to join your opportunity

Do any of these statements sound familiar? There are more that I could ad but these are the most common. All successful businesses are good at sales and marketing. They know how to attract prospects to what it is they are selling or promoting.

Attraction Network Marketing Secrets - How to Recruit Prospects Into Your MLM Company the Easy Way

Let's face it, the majority of network marketers from the beginning are not taught how to attract the right types of prospects for their business opportunity. They are told to recruit anybody and everybody. They are also told some recruits will stay and some will not, it's a numbers game.

I tried the above marketing strategies for a year and a half and almost lost my entire business. I could not find the rights types of prospects fast enough to offset the people who were dropping out. I would recruit a few people this month and then 60 days later most of those people had quit or were not duplicating.

The first mental shift I had to make after a year and a half of struggling was to see myself as an entrepreneur not a distributor. I had to do things differently than the rest. I had to find a way to help more people reach their goals. This is when I started my own research into attraction marketing and how to position myself as somebody people would want to join in business. One of the biggest things I learned after talking to many people was that sharing my business opportunity was not enough. I was told by my upline to just share the opportunity and people would sign up. This was not the case.

What people wanted more was someone willing to help. They wanted someone with integrity who they could trust. They wanted to learn how to prospect, how to market the business, and they wanted a mentor.

So, here's the deal. I started using creative online marketing strategies that I could promote and have my team plug into. These creative strategies involved using online videos that I could post on MySpace, YouTube, eBay, and blogs. I would write a lot of articles and post them online in article directories. I would participate in online forums like magnetic sponsoring and richdad.com

What started happening was people were starting to relate to me on a personal basis watching my online videos and trainings. I was also branding myself as an expert through my articles. When I started generating my own prospects and calling them it was totally different than cold calling a business opportunity list. These people were eager to get to know me and they wanted to know how they could work with me. This was a perfect time for me to introduce my funded proposal and business opportunity. I would then work with personally 2 to 3 people every month who were the most serious and productive. Everyone else I would plug into my online training, training newsletters, and conference calls.

Once the attraction marketing strategies that I was using was in full swing my business started exploding. My attrition rate went way down and my business was more fun. I love this industry and especially seeing others succeed. I could never go back to people selling a business opportunity before selling myself.

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What Do You Consider When Evaluating Hardware For Your Network Infrastructure (eg Routers, etc)

When you are placed in the unenviable position of having to make decisions on selecting a hardware solution for your company's network infrastructure .... LAN or WAN .... the evaluation process can be overwhelming. Without a plan you're doomed to failure .... and a huge migraine.

Keep in mind that it's important to consider the culture of your enterprise and what qualities it values.

For instance, if it values self-reliance in IT - or views it as core to its business - it may be more likely to look for the best of breed solution. If IT is less central to the enterprise, than a widely implemented adequate solution that is easy to find experienced people to work on may be the solution of choice.

What Do You Consider When Evaluating Hardware For Your Network Infrastructure (eg Routers, etc)

In short, making the list of qualities we all want in a piece of gear/vendor is easy. Figuring out which ones to emphasize in the analysis is the real challenge and the analysis that really should drive your decision.

To help things go smoother ..... focus on these simple attributes in your evaluation.

The number one answer is the integrity of the corporation. What is very important is that the company has a commitment to make their products work as advertised and documented, and not cut corners on Quality Assurance.

Another important factor, but related ,is their customer service and technical support. What is the turn around time to get replacement components that are defective. When you talk to technical support, are they knowledgeable or certified on the product they support and the platforms the product runs on.

Base your provider evaluation on the above and the rest will follow along.

Next .... confirm the design requirements, how much network traffic, kind of traffic (data, VoIP, etc.), number of remote networks for WAN, future growth, redundancy. Cisco has an online tool that will suggest the appropriate device based on answers to these kinds of questions.

If cost if no object you'll do well with Cisco. It may be worth evaluating Juniper and Foundry depending on your needs, and for SMB solutions you may even consider open-source options such as the Vyatta router/firewall.

Over the years I've seen people tackle this question, all in a variety of ways. What I have seen more often than not is the desire to create more documentation / analysis of products / due-diligence without focusing on what's at stake.

Don't complicate the question too much - focus on your specific needs, and make sure you don't exclude the future. What you need now may be just the ice-breaker for what your needs are in the future - make sure you have a plan to scale.

The other big question I think is also overlooked is residual costs associated with purchased equipment. A lot of companies are gung ho on maintenance purchased annually .... remember, there is a cost associated with downtime, and in some environments this cost prohibitive; in some it is a non-impact. Factor these things in your evaluation as well as the cost to support the solution.

For a quick checklist:

* First of all evaluate known and proven brands when possible since the issue of continued support from the company and availability of warranty repair and replacement would be a major concern on a significant investment.

* Second - Choose the correct level of product for the job. Avoid paying for added functionality if the client would never, ever (be careful, things can change) use these things. Don't buy a limo when you only need a bicycle.

* Third - Compare performance, price, and mean time between failures (MTBF). Look for "end of life" announcements. If you are looking for a bargain or want longevity these are a good clue.

* Fourth - Google the product(s) in question to find reviews and other feedback.

* Fifth - Hands-on evaluation with a call to support for the finalist products.

Somewhere in here you may need to consider the need for failover or redundancy. If this unit represents a single point of failure without backup .... then cross ship warranty policies or local availability may be critical.

Generally ..... it all starts with knowing your needs. Routers have the ability to connect networks with different media, even different networking techniques. Examples are Fiber-to-UTP and Ethernet-to-ADSL. It's obvious you should have a device that can address your needs. Will your needs change in the future and, if so, is the device capable of adapting to those changes?

Other considerations are security ..... does the device stand at the edge of your network, at the risk of being attacked; or is it somewhere in the middle of your LAN, just connecting departments to the core. In the first case you need something with a firewall feature set, in the second case a layer 3 switch might do.

Don't forget ..... what is the amount of traffic the router needs to process.

Once you know what you need, and bring back your white list to the devices that address your needs, more choices have to be made.

When it comes to IT in general, money is a BIG issue. As IT usually will be seen as something that costs money. So at first thoughts, the price of the equipment is important.

BUT...

You should consider that also for managing the network environment. When your initial expenses are low but you spend a great deal of time keeping it up and running, it is difficult to adapt to changes, or your company suffers network outages ..... your management will not be pleased. So you need to look at MTBF figures, mean time between failure, and how fast you can get a replacement. With some exotic brands replacement can be an issue.

For real important routers you should consider a hot standby configuration which costs more, but will switch over automatically in case of a failure without anyone knowing your primary router died. Except for you, of course, as you are monitoring both devices.

Another important item related to managing the equipment is how it fits in your IT department. If your network engineering department is a group of well-trained Juniper specialists, buying a Cisco brings additional costs for training.

Boiling it all down here's the real message:

Firstly as with all business considerations you must consider the costs there is no point at looking at the top of the market if the business will not stretch to that point. It is also worth discounting cheaper options ASAP if the business is prepared to pay for the right solution rather than the cheapest.

The next consideration depends on the nature of your business, your need for security and reliability. But at a general level most businesses need something reliable. This means if you are remote or have remote offices with little support you want something with a high time between failures. Security often depends on the nature of your business protection. Financial and Medical information is for example considered more of a risk than most general data. There is also always a basic need for security .... but again as always there must be a balance of Cost, Usability and Security. It must never be your only consideration. It also depends on the size of your IT support organisation. Will hundreds of people require access to this equipment .... or will this be restricted to a select few? Is centralizing and auditing access worth it for your organisation?

Supportability is also part of this equation; you may want something with either great remote management capabilities or something simple anyone can maintain. If you purchase rarer equipment it may be harder to find remote service personnel capable of support. However if you design the systems well .... with spares and redundant paths .... a centralized body may handle this for you. You see it all depends on your approach to the problem.

Next how high will you scale, do you have growth projections for the future. Are there any new applications or new company acquisitions which will seriously affect the solution. Will you be moving say from a DS3 bandwidth backbone to an OC3 bandwidth backbone in a few years?

Once all the considerations have been looked at you must be consistent. Classify differing sites and have set standards in operating systems, hardware platforms, IP Addressing and configurations for sites. This is great from a TCO perspective and will make supporting the network easier and cheaper. Even when using low end equipment replacing a standard item held it stock is much easier the trying to figure out a new configuration in the heat of a network outage. This also makes documentation easier which is the core of world class architecture. Support on sites without documentation is always a nightmare.

For network designers there are obviously many brand considerations, but most will often recommend CISCO solutions. I can recommend CISCO from a security, manageability, scalability and supportability perspective. However it can be quite expensive depending on your requirements.

It is up to you to manage the balance between price and the rest. You may end up with a different vendor for routing, switching, wireless, VOIP etc. The important thing is to try and keep it manageable. The item price is not the full cost consider Maintenance, Support and Reliability in your equation. Sometimes the most expensive option has a much better support cost than the upfront cheap options.

Whatever solution you choose in the end .... hopefully you follow a well thought plan in the process incorporating the above issues and suggestions.

What Do You Consider When Evaluating Hardware For Your Network Infrastructure (eg Routers, etc)
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Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

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