NETGEAR ProSafe Quad WAN FR538G User manual

November 2007
202-10289-01
v1.0
NETGEAR, Inc.
4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA
ProSafe Quad WAN
Gigabit Firewall FR538G
Reference Manual

ii
1.0, November 2007
© 2007 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are registered trademarks and ProSafe is a trademark of NETGEAR, Inc.
Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product
names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
Statement of Conditions
In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to
make changes to the products described in this document without notice.
NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit
layout(s) described herein.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice: Radio Frequency
Notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try
to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
EU Regulatory Compliance Statement
ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall is compliant with the following EU Council Directives: 89/336/EEC and LVD 73/
23/EEC. Compliance is verified by testing to the following standards: EN55022 Class B, EN55024 and EN60950-1.
Bestätigung des Herstellers/Importeurs
Es wird hiermit bestätigt, daß das ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall gemäß der im BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 und
Vfg 46/1992 aufgeführten Bestimmungen entstört ist. Das vorschriftsmäßige Betreiben einiger Geräte (z.B. Testsender)
kann jedoch gewissen Beschränkungen unterliegen. Lesen Sie dazu bitte die Anmerkungen in der Betriebsanleitung.
Das Bundesamt für Zulassungen in der Telekommunikation wurde davon unterrichtet, daß dieses Gerät auf den Markt
gebracht wurde und es ist berechtigt, die Serie auf die Erfüllung der Vorschriften hin zu überprüfen.
Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer
It is hereby certified that the ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall has been suppressed in accordance with the
conditions set out in the BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 and Vfg 46/1992. The operation of some equipment (for example,
test transmitters) in accordance with the regulations may, however, be subject to certain restrictions. Please refer to the
notes in the operating instructions.

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iii
Federal Office for Telecommunications Approvals has been notified of the placing of this equipment on the market
and has been granted the right to test the series for compliance with the regulations.
Additional Copyrights
AES Copyright (c) 2001, Dr Brian Gladman <[email protected]>, Worcester, UK.
All rights reserved.
TERMS
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
subject to the following conditions:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
provided with the distribution.
3. The copyright holder's name must not be used to endorse or promote any products
derived from this software without his specific prior written permission.
This software is provided 'as is' with no express or implied warranties of correctness or fitness
for purpose.

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iv
Open SSL Copyright (c) 1998-2000 The OpenSSL Project. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted
provided that the following conditions * are met:
1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions
and the following disclaimer.
2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
provided with the distribution.
3. All advertising materials mentioning features or use of this software must display the
following acknowledgment: “This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL
Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit. (http://www.openssl.org/)”
4. The names "OpenSSL Toolkit" and "OpenSSL Project" must not be used to endorse or
promote products derived from this software without prior written permission. For written
permission, please contact [email protected].
5. Products derived from this software may not be called "OpenSSL" nor may "OpenSSL"
appear in their names without prior written permission of the OpenSSL Project.
6. Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following acknowledgment: "This
product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL
Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/)"
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE OpenSSL PROJECT ``AS IS'' AND ANY
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE OpenSSL PROJECT OR ITS
CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR
PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY
OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
This product includes cryptographic software written by Eric Young ([email protected]). This
product includes software written by Tim Hudson ([email protected]).

1.0, November 2007
v
MD5 Copyright (C) 1990, RSA Data Security, Inc. All rights reserved.
License to copy and use this software is granted provided that it is identified as the "RSA Data
Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing this
software or this function. License is also granted to make and use derivative works provided
that such works are identified as "derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message-
Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing the derived work.
RSA Data Security, Inc. makes no representations concerning either the merchantability of
this software or the suitability of this software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is"
without express or implied warranty of any kind.
These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this documentation and/or
software.
PPP Copyright (c) 1989 Carnegie Mellon University. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted provided that the above
copyright notice and this paragraph are duplicated in all such forms and that any
documentation, advertising materials, and other materials related to such distribution and use
acknowledge that the software was developed by Carnegie Mellon University. The name of
the University may not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
without specific prior written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Zlib zlib.h -- interface of the 'zlib' general purpose compression library version 1.1.4, March 11th,
2002. Copyright (C) 1995-2002 Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler.
This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the
authors be held liable for any damages arising from the use of this software. Permission is
granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose, including commercial applications,
and to alter it and redistribute it freely, subject to the following restrictions:
1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not claim that you wrote
the original software. If you use this software in a product, an acknowledgment in the
product documentation would be appreciated but is not required.
2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be misrepresented
as being the original software.
3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source distribution.
Jean-loup Gailly: [e-mail]; Mark Adler: [email protected]
The data format used by the zlib library is described by RFCs (Request for Comments) 1950
to 1952 in the files ftp://ds.internic.net/rfc/rfc1950.txt (zlib format), rfc1951.txt (deflate format)
and rfc1952.txt (gzip format)

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Safety Precautions
Use the following safety guidelines to ensure your own personal safety and to help protect your system from potential
damage. To reduce the risk of bodily injury, electrical shock, fire, and damage to the equipment, observe the following
precautions:
• Observe and follow service markings.
– Do not service any product except as explained in the documentation.
– Opening or removing covers that are marked with the triangular symbol with a lightning bolt may expose you
to electrical shock. Only a trained service technician should service components inside these compartments.
• If any of the following conditions occur, unplug the product from the electrical outlet and replace the part or contact
your trained service provider:
– The power cable, extension cable, or plug is damaged.
– An object has fallen into the product.
– The product has been exposed to water.
– The product has been dropped or damaged.
– The product does not operate correctly when you follow the operating instructions.
• Keep your system away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents.
• Do not spill food or liquids on your system components, and never operate the product in a wet environment. If the
system gets wet, see the appropriate section in your troubleshooting guide or contact your trained service provider.
• Do not push any objects into the openings of your system. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out
interior components.
• Use the product only with approved equipment.
• Allow the product to cool before removing covers or touching internal components.
• Operate the product only from the type of external power source indicated on the electrical ratings label. If you are
not sure of the type of power source required, consult your service provider or local power company.
Product and Publication Details
Model Number: FR538G
Publication Date: November 2007
Product Family: Quad WAN gigabit Firewall
Product Name: ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall
Home or Business Product: Business
Language: English
Publication Part Number: 202-10289-01
Publication Version Number 1.0

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Contents
About This Manual
Conventions, Formats and Scope ...................................................................................xiii
How to Use This Manual ..................................................................................................xiv
How to Print this Manual ..................................................................................................xiv
Revision History ...............................................................................................................xv
Chapter 1
Introduction
Key Features ..................................................................................................................1-1
Quad WAN Ports for Increased Reliability or Outbound Load Balancing .................1-2
A Powerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering ......................................................1-2
Security Features .....................................................................................................1-2
Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink ...............................................1-3
Extensive Protocol Support ......................................................................................1-3
Easy Installation and Management ..........................................................................1-4
Maintenance and Support ........................................................................................1-4
Package Contents ..........................................................................................................1-5
Router Front Panel ...................................................................................................1-5
Router Rear Panel ...................................................................................................1-7
Rack Mounting Hardware .........................................................................................1-7
The Router’s IP Address, Login Name, and Password ............................................1-8
Default Log In Settings .............................................................................................1-8
Chapter 2
Connecting the FR538G
Logging into the Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall .................................................................2-1
Connecting Your Router to the Internet ..........................................................................2-1
Configuring the WAN Port Internet Connections ............................................................2-2
Setting the Router’s MAC Address ..........................................................................2-5
Manually Configuring Your Internet Connection .......................................................2-5

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Connecting Your Router in Transparent Bridge Mode ....................................................2-7
Programming the Traffic Meter (if Desired) ....................................................................2-9
Configuring the WAN Mode (Required for Quad WAN) ................................................2-11
Setting Up Auto-Rollover Mode ..............................................................................2-12
Setting Up Load Balancing .....................................................................................2-14
Configuring Dynamic DNS (If Needed) .........................................................................2-17
Configuring the Advanced WAN Options (If Needed) ...................................................2-20
Chapter 3
LAN Configuration
Using the Firewall as a DHCP server .............................................................................3-1
Configuring the LAN Setup Options .........................................................................3-2
Configuring Multi Home LAN IPs .............................................................................3-4
Configuring Port Mirror .............................................................................................3-6
Port Management .....................................................................................................3-7
Managing Groups and Hosts (LAN Groups) ...................................................................3-8
Creating the Network Database ...............................................................................3-9
Setting Up Address Reservation ............................................................................3-12
Configuring and Enabling the DMZ Port .......................................................................3-12
Static Routes ................................................................................................................3-15
Configuring Static Routes .......................................................................................3-15
Routing Information Protocol (RIP) ........................................................................3-17
Static Route Example .............................................................................................3-19
Network Binding ...........................................................................................................3-19
Chapter 4
Firewall Protection and Content Filtering
Using Rules to Block or Allow Specific Kinds of Traffic ..................................................4-1
Services-Based Rules ..............................................................................................4-2
Outbound Rules (Service Blocking) ...................................................................4-2
Inbound Rules (Port Forwarding) ......................................................................4-4
Order of Precedence for Rules ................................................................................4-7
Setting LAN WAN Rules ..........................................................................................4-7
LAN WAN Outbound Services Rules .................................................................4-9
LAN WAN Inbound Services Rules ...................................................................4-9
Setting DMZ WAN Rules ........................................................................................4-10
Setting LAN DMZ Rules .........................................................................................4-12

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LAN DMZ Outbound Services Rules ...............................................................4-13
LAN DMZ Inbound Services Rules ..................................................................4-13
Inbound Rules Examples .......................................................................................4-14
LAN WAN Inbound Rule: Hosting A Local Public Web Server ........................4-14
LAN WAN Inbound Rule: Allowing Videoconference from Restricted Addresses 4-14
LAN WAN or DMZ WAN Inbound Rule: Setting Up One-to-One NAT Mapping 4-15
LAN WAN or DMZ WAN Inbound Rule: Specifying an Exposed Host .............4-17
Outbound Rules Example ......................................................................................4-18
LAN WAN Outbound Rule: Blocking Instant Messenger .................................4-18
Implementing DoS and DDoS ................................................................................4-19
Imposing Session Limits ........................................................................................4-21
Setting Up P2P Software Prevention .....................................................................4-22
Adding Customized Services .................................................................................4-24
Setting a Schedule to Block or Allow Specific Traffic ....................................................4-26
Setting Block Sites (Content Filtering) ..........................................................................4-27
Enabling IP/MAC Binding .............................................................................................4-29
Setting Up Port Triggering (in NAT mode) ....................................................................4-31
E-Mail Notifications of Event Logs and Alerts ...............................................................4-34
Administrator Tips .........................................................................................................4-38
Chapter 5
Router and Network Management
Performance Management .............................................................................................5-1
Bandwidth Capacity .................................................................................................5-1
Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall Features That Reduce Traffic ......................................5-2
Service Blocking ................................................................................................5-2
Block Sites .........................................................................................................5-4
IP/MAC Binding .................................................................................................5-5
Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall Features That Increase Traffic ....................................5-5
Port Forwarding .................................................................................................5-5
Port Triggering ...................................................................................................5-6
DMZ Port ...........................................................................................................5-7
Using QoS to Shift the Traffic Mix ............................................................................5-7
Tools for Traffic Management ...................................................................................5-8
Administration .................................................................................................................5-8
Changing Passwords and Settings ..........................................................................5-8

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Enabling Remote Management Access .................................................................5-10
Using a SNMP Manager ........................................................................................5-11
Enabling UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) .............................................................5-13
Settings Backup and Firmware Upgrade ...............................................................5-14
Backup and Restore Settings ..........................................................................5-14
Router Upgrade ...............................................................................................5-15
Setting the Time Zone ............................................................................................5-17
Monitoring the Router ...................................................................................................5-18
Enabling the Traffic Meter ......................................................................................5-18
Setting Login Failures and Attacks Notification ......................................................5-20
Monitoring Attached Devices .................................................................................5-21
Viewing Port Triggering Status ...............................................................................5-23
Viewing Router Configuration and System Status .................................................5-24
Monitoring WAN Ports Status .................................................................................5-25
DHCP Log ..............................................................................................................5-26
Configuring QoS (Quality of Service) .....................................................................5-27
Maximum Bandwidth for WAN Ports ......................................................................5-32
Performing Diagnostics ..........................................................................................5-33
Chapter 6
Troubleshooting
Basic Functions ..............................................................................................................6-1
Power LED Not On ...................................................................................................6-1
LEDs Never Turn Off ................................................................................................6-2
LAN or Internet Port LEDs Not On ...........................................................................6-2
Troubleshooting the Web Configuration Interface ..........................................................6-2
Troubleshooting the ISP Connection ..............................................................................6-4
Troubleshooting a TCP/IP Network Using a Ping Utility .................................................6-5
Testing the LAN Path to Your Firewall ......................................................................6-5
Testing the Path from Your PC to a Remote Device ................................................6-6
Restoring the Default Configuration and Password ........................................................6-7
Problems with Date and Time .........................................................................................6-7

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Appendix A
Default Settings and Technical Specifications
Appendix B
Command Line Interface Guide
Common ........................................................................................................................ B-2
System ........................................................................................................................... B-3
Firewall .......................................................................................................................... B-3
Network Configuration ................................................................................................... B-7
Diagnostic/Monitor ....................................................................................................... B-12
Appendix C
Related Documents
Appendix D
Network Planning for Quad WAN Ports
What You Will Need to Do Before You Begin ................................................................D-1
Cabling and Computer Hardware Requirements ....................................................D-3
Computer Network Configuration Requirements ....................................................D-3
Internet Configuration Requirements ......................................................................D-4
Where Do I Get the Internet Configuration Parameters? ........................................D-4
Internet Connection Information Form ....................................................................D-5
Overview of the Planning Process .................................................................................D-6
Inbound Traffic ........................................................................................................D-6
The Roll-over Case for Firewalls With Quad WAN Ports ........................................D-6
The Load Balancing Case for Firewalls With Quad WAN Ports ..............................D-7
Inbound Traffic ...............................................................................................................D-7
Inbound Traffic to Single WAN Port (Reference Case) ...........................................D-7
Inbound Traffic to Quad WAN Port Systems ...........................................................D-8
Inbound Traffic: Quad WAN Ports for Improved Reliability ...............................D-8
Inbound Traffic: Quad WAN Ports for Load Balancing .....................................D-9
Index

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xiii
v1.0, November 2007
About This Manual
The NETGEAR®ProSafe™ Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall describes how to install, configure and
troubleshoot the ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall. The information in this manual is intended
for readers with intermediate computer and Internet skills.
Conventions, Formats and Scope
The conventions, formats, and scope of this manual are described in the following paragraphs.
•Typographical Conventions. This manual uses the following typographical conventions:
•Formats. This manual uses the following formats to highlight special messages:
Italics Emphasis, books, CDs, file and server names, extensions
Bold User input, IP addresses, GUI screen text
Fixed Command prompt, CLI text, code
italics URL links
Note: This format is used to highlight information of importance or special interest.
Tip: This format is used to highlight a procedure that will save time or resources.
Warning: Ignoring this type of note may result in a malfunction or damage to the
equipment.

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v1.0, November 2007
•Scope. This manual is written for the quad WAN gigabit firewall according to the following
specifications:
For more information about network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies, see the links to the
NETGEAR website in Appendix C, “Related Documents.”
How to Use This Manual
The HTML version of this manual includes the following:
• Buttons, and , for browsing forward or backward through the manual one page
at a time.
• A button that displays the table of contents and a button that displays the Index.
Double-click on a link in the table of contents or index to navigate directly to where the topic
is described in the manual.
• A button to access the full NETGEAR, Inc. online knowledge base for the product
model.
• Links to PDF versions of the full manual and individual chapters.
How to Print this Manual
To print this manual you can choose one of the following options, according to your needs.
•Printing a Page from HTML. Each page in the HTML version of the manual is dedicated to
a major topic. Select File > Print from the browser menu to print the page contents.
Danger: This is a safety warning. Failure to take heed of this notice may result in
personal injury or death.
Product Version ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall
Manual Publication Date November 2007
Note: Updates to this product are available on the NETGEAR, Inc. website at
http://kbserver.netgear.com/products/FR538G.asp.

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•Printing from PDF. Your computer must have the free Adobe Acrobat reader installed in
order to view and print PDF files. The Acrobat reader is available on the Adobe Web site at
http://www.adobe.com.
– Printing a PDF Chapter. Use the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left of any page.
• Click the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left of any page in the chapter you want
to print. The PDF version of the chapter you were viewing opens in a browser
window.
• Click the print icon in the upper left of your browser window.
–Printing a PDF version of the Complete Manual. Use the Complete PDF Manual link
at the top left of any page.
• Click the Complete PDF Manual link at the top left of any page in the manual. The
PDF version of the complete manual opens in a browser window.
• Click the print icon in the upper left of your browser window.
Revision History
202
Tip: If your printer supports printing two pages on a single sheet of paper, you can
save paper and printer ink by selecting this feature.
Part Number Version
Number Date Description
202-10289-01 1.0 Oct. 2007 Product introduction.

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v1.0, November 2007

Introduction 1-1
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Chapter 1
Introduction
The ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall with four 10/100/1000 port connects your local area
network (LAN) to the Internet through an external access device such as a cable modem or DSL
modem.
The FR538G is a complete security solution that protects your network from attacks and
intrusions. For example, the FR538G provides support for Stateful Packet Inspection, Denial of
Service (DoS) attack protection and multi-NAT support. The quad WAN gigabit firewall supports
multiple Web content filtering options, plus browsing activity reporting and instant alerts—both
via e-mail. Network administrators can establish restricted access policies based on time-of-day,
Website addresses and address keywords.
The FR538G is a plug-and-play device that can be installed and configured within minutes.
Key Features
The quad WAN gigabit firewall provides the following features:
• Four 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet WAN ports for load balancing or failover protection,
providing increased system reliability, load balancing, or link aggregation. The WAN ports do
not respond to some unsolicited traffic (for example, ping).
• Quality of Service (QoS) support for traffic prioritization, voice, and multimedia.
• One console port for local management.
• SNMP Manageable, optimized for the NETGEAR ProSafe Network Management Software
(NMS100).
• Easy, web-based setup for installation and management.
• Advanced SPI Firewall and Multi-NAT support.
• Extensive Protocol Support.
• Login capability.
• Front panel LEDs for easy monitoring of status and activity.
• Flash memory for firmware upgrade.
• One U Rack mountable.

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Quad WAN Ports for Increased Reliability or Outbound Load
Balancing
The FR538G has four broadband WAN ports (WAN1, WAN2, WAN3 and WAN4) capable of
operating independently at speeds of 10 MBps, 100 Mbps or 1G. The four WAN ports let you
connect a second broadband Internet line that can be configured on a mutually-exclusive basis to:
• Provide backup and rollover if one line is inoperable, ensuring you are never disconnected.
• Load balance, or use four Internet lines simultaneously for the outgoing traffic. The firewall
balances users between the four lines for maximum bandwidth efficiency.
See “Network Planning for Quad WAN Ports” on page D-1 for the planning factors to consider
when implementing the following capabilities with quad WAN port gateways:
• Single or multiple exposed hosts
A Powerful, True Firewall with Content Filtering
Unlike simple Internet sharing NAT routers, the FR538G is a true firewall, using stateful packet
inspection to defend against hacker attacks. Its firewall features include:
• DoS protection. Automatically detects and thwarts DoS attacks such as Ping of Death, SYN
Flood, LAND Attack, and IP Spoofing.
•Secure Firewall. Blocks unwanted traffic from the Internet to your LAN.
•Block Sites. Blocks access from your LAN to Internet locations or services that you specify as
off-limits.
•Logs security incidents. The FR538G will log security events such as blocked incoming
traffic, port scans, attacks, and administrator logins. You can configure the firewall to email
the log to you at specified intervals. You can also configure the firewall to send immediate
alert messages to your email address or email pager whenever a significant event occurs.
•Keyword Filtering. With its URL keyword filtering feature, the FR538G prevents
objectionable content from reaching your PCs. The firewall allows you to control access to
Internet content by screening for keywords within Web addresses. You can configure the
firewall to log and report attempts to access objectionable Internet sites.
Security Features
The quad WAN gigabit firewall is equipped with several features designed to maintain security, as
described in this section.

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•PCs Hidden by NAT. NAT opens a temporary path to the Internet for requests originating
from the local network. Requests originating from outside the LAN are discarded, preventing
users outside the LAN from finding and directly accessing the PCs on the LAN.
•Port Forwarding with NAT. Although NAT prevents Internet locations from directly
accessing the PCs on the LAN, the firewall allows you to direct incoming traffic to specific
PCs based on the service port number of the incoming request. You can specify forwarding of
single ports or ranges of ports.
•DMZ port. Incoming traffic from the Internet is normally discarded by the firewall unless the
traffic is a response to one of your local computers or a service for which you have configured
an inbound rule. Instead of discarding this traffic, you can have it forwarded to one computer
on your network.
Autosensing Ethernet Connections with Auto Uplink
With its internal 4-port 10/100/1000 switch, the FR538G can connect to a 10 Mbps standard
Ethernet network, or either a 100 Mbps or 1G Fast Ethernet network. Both the LAN and WAN
interfaces are autosensing and capable of full-duplex or half-duplex operation.
The firewall incorporates Auto UplinkTM technology. Each Ethernet port will automatically sense
whether the Ethernet cable plugged into the port should have a ‘normal’ connection such as to a
PC or an “uplink” connection such as to a switch or hub. That port will then configure itself to the
correct configuration. This feature also eliminates the need to worry about crossover cables, as
Auto Uplink will accommodate either type of cable to make the right connection.
Extensive Protocol Support
The quad WAN gigabit firewall supports the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) and Routing Information Protocol (RIP). For further information about TCP/IP, refer
to “Internet Configuration Requirements” in Appendix D.”
•IP Address Sharing by NAT. The quad WAN gigabit firewall allows several networked PCs
to share an Internet account using only a single IP address, which may be statically or
dynamically assigned by your Internet service provider (ISP). This technique, known as NAT,
allows the use of an inexpensive single-user ISP account.
•Automatic Configuration of Attached PCs by DHCP. The quad WAN gigabit firewall
dynamically assigns network configuration information, including IP, gateway, and domain
name server (DNS) addresses, to attached PCs on the LAN using the Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP). This feature greatly simplifies configuration of PCs on your
local network.

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•DNS Proxy. When DHCP is enabled and no DNS addresses are specified, the firewall
provides its own address as a DNS server to the attached PCs. The firewall obtains actual DNS
addresses from the ISP during connection setup and forwards DNS requests from the LAN.
•PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE). PPPoE is a protocol for connecting remote hosts to the Internet
over a DSL connection by simulating a dial-up connection. This feature eliminates the need to
run a login program such as EnterNet or WinPOET on your PC.
Easy Installation and Management
You can install, configure, and operate the ProSafe Quad WAN Gigabit Firewall within minutes
after connecting it to the network. The following features simplify installation and management
tasks:
•Browser-Based Management. Browser-based configuration allows you to easily configure
your firewall from almost any type of personal computer, such as Windows, Macintosh, or
Linux. A user-friendly Setup Wizard is provided and online help documentation is built into
the browser-based Web Management Interface.
•Auto Detect. The quad WAN gigabit firewall automatically senses the type of Internet
connection, asking you only for the information required for your type of ISP account.
•SNMP. The quad WAN gigabit firewall supports the Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) to let you monitor and manage log resources from an SNMP-compliant system
manager. The SNMP system configuration lets you change the system variables for MIB2.
•Diagnostic Functions. The firewall incorporates built-in diagnostic functions such as Ping,
Trace Route, DNS lookup, and remote reboot.
•Remote Management. The firewall allows you to login to the Web Management Interface
from a remote location on the Internet. For security, you can limit remote management access
to a specified remote IP address or range of addresses, and you can choose a nonstandard port
number.
•Visual monitoring. The quad WAN gigabit firewall’s front panel LEDs provide an easy way
to monitor its status and activity.
Maintenance and Support
NETGEAR offers the following features to help you maximize your use of the quad WAN gigabit
firewall:
• Flash memory for firmware upgrade