Black Box MC170A User manual

Keep your LAN safe from Internet hackers.
Keep your LAN safe from Internet hackers.
LAN-Safe Firewall
© 2007. All rights reserved. Black Box Corporation.
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FEATURES
• Protects your 10BASE-T LAN from
Internet hackers.
• Breaks connection to your 10BASE-T
Ethernet LAN while a modem’s in use.
• Provides extra protection to existing
firewalls.
• Easy to install—no software needed.
• Interface-powered—requires no
external power supply.
• Available in standalone and wallplate
versions.
• Set up the enhanced version to require a
virus scan after every use of the modem.
The LAN-Safe Firewall is a good choice to protect
a small to mid-sized 10BASE-T LAN.
OVERVIEW
The Internet is based on UNIX®systems which were
originally designed for open and easy connectivity. But that
same open architecture can make it easy for hackers to break
into your LAN via the Internet.
The LAN-Safe Firewall prevents unauthorized LAN access
from your Internet connection by disconnecting the LAN
connection while the modem is in use. There is never a
direct connection between the Internet and your LAN.
The LAN-Safe Firewall is an external hardware security
device designed for PCs or servers that have both 10BASE-T
Ethernet network interface cards and modems.
When you dial out to the Internet, the LAN-Safe Firewall
automatically disconnects the LAN. When you’re done with
the modem, the unit automatically reconnects the LAN.
Although the LAN-Safe Firewall can be used at various
points on the LAN, it’s primarily used in smaller LAN environ-
ments without conventional firewalls and where one or more
users access the Internet while their PC is connected to the
LAN.
With the LAN-Safe Firewall installed, the LAN connection
is physically broken while the modem session is in progress—
and your network is effectively safeguarded from LAN
damage or security breaches from Internet connections. Once
the modem call is completed, the unit automatically restores
the link to the LAN.
The LAN-Safe Firewall can also be used in other install-
ations, even those with conventional firewalls that restrict
access to high-priority servers while dialup modems are in use.
It doesn’t matter if the server supports the modem connection
or if it’s an adjacent server—the LAN-Safe Firewall provides
the extra protection your network needs wherever there’s a
modem connection.
Installation is easy—no training or maintenance is
required. Plus the LAN-Safe Firewall is powered from
the telco line, so it can be used practically anywhere.
The LAN-Safe Firewall is a simple but highly effective
network solution that keeps hackers out.
Choose either the basic LAN-Safe Firewall (MC170A
for standalone or MC171A for wallplate) or the enhanced
model (MC172A).
The MC172A, when operating in the enhanced mode,
gives you all the protections of the basic disconnect, but
its LAN connection isn’t automatically restored when your
modem call is completed. In fact, it doesn’t restore the link
until it runs a program like a virus scan. That way, you can
prevent downloaded viruses from infecting your entire
network. Or you can run an analysis or audit program of
your choice, which you set up through an encrypted,
password-protected program included with the MC172A.
You can operate the switch-selectable device as a basic
or enhanced LAN-Safe Firewall. When used as a basic unit,
it allows multiple units to be stacked together to accomm-
odate operation with multiple modems or servers.
The wallplate versions feature punchdown 110 connectors;
these are compatible with the EIA/TIA 568B wiring standard
for easy replacement.
A typical application might be an office with a small
10BASE-T LAN connected to the LAN-Safe Firewall on one
computer that’s used for Internet access.
LAN-Safe Firewall
(MC170A)
10BASE-T network
PC
Modem

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TECH SPECS
Compliance — FCC Part 68 Reg. Number 4E1USA-22465-KX-N
MTBF — >60,00 hours
Connectors — MC170A, MC172A: (2) RJ-11 (telco/modem),
(2) RJ-45 (LAN/NIC);
MC171A: (1) RJ-11 (modem), (1) RJ-11 (NIC)
Indicators — (1) Modem
Temperature Tolerance — Operating: 32 to 122°F (0 to 50°C);
Storage: -40 to +158°F (-40 to +70°C)
Humidity Tolerance — 5 to 95% relative (noncondensing)
Altitude (Maximum) — 10,000 ft. (3048 m)
Size — 3"H x 1.7"W x 0.8"D (7.6 x 4.3 x 2 cm)
Weight — 0.5 lb. (0.2 kg)
Item Code
LAN-Safe Firewall
Standalone MC170A
Enhanced Standalone MC172A
Wallplate MC171A
You might also need to order cable…
RJ-11 Modular Cable, 4-Wire, Cross-Pinned, 4-ft. (1.2-m)
EL04M-04
The Internet has become such a valuable business tool that
your company can’t afford to do without it. You can lose sales
and worse unless you have access to e-mail and up-to-the-
minute information that the Internet provides.
However, many companies are afraid of giving the PCs on
their LAN access to the Internet for fear of hackers breaking
in. Just the thought of a hacker with access to vital company
records or confidential information is enough to make many
managers decide to simply cut off all access to the Internet.
There’s some justification in these fears. While having
your network hacked is not an everyday occurrence, there
are hackers out there who delight in hacking into any site,
large or small. One Internet site devoted to hacking tools
even advertises, “Check out this easy-to-hack site!” and
provides a link plus a password. It’s enough to make you
bury your head in the sand and forget the Internet.
But there are steps you can take to keep hackers out.
While no protection can be 100% secure, you can minimize
the possibility of a break-in and to minimize damage if a
break-in should occur.
For starters, every LAN should have good virus-protection
software installed—viruses are the number one problem
downloaded off the Internet.
Every server should be backed up daily—not just for
protection from hackers but also for recovery from the
occasional unavoidable system crash or hardware failure.
Another very effective way to block out hackers is to use
an Internet firewall to act as a barrier between the Internet
and your LAN.
The LAN-Safe Firewall is suitable for use on a small LAN if
all PCs have Internet access, or on a mid-sized LAN if only one
or two PCs have Internet access.
Recognize any of these situations?
• You wait more than 30 minutes to get through
to a vendor’s tech support.
• The so-called “tech” can’t help you or gives you
the wrong answer.
• You don’t have a purchase order number and the
tech refuses to help you.
• It’s 9 p. m. and you need help, but your vendor’s
tech support line is closed.
According to a survey by Data Communications
magazine, 90% of network managers surveyed say
that getting the technical support they need is extremely
important when choosing a vendor. But even though
network managers pay anywhere from 10 to 20% of their
overall purchase price for a basic service and support
contract, the technical support and service they receive
falls far short of their expectations—and certainly isn’t
worth what they paid.
At Black Box, we guarantee the best value and the
best support. You can even consult our Technical Support
Experts before you buy if you need help selecting just
the right component for your application.
Don’t waste time and money—call Black Box today.
Why Buy From Black Box?
Exceptional Value. Exceptional
Tech Support. Period.
Technically Speaking
MC170A