3Com 3CRWE554G72T User Guide - Page 11

1 INTRODUCING THE ROUTER Welcome to the world of networking with 3Com®. In the modern business environment, communication and sharing information is crucial. Computer networks have proved to be one of the fastest modes of communication but, until recently, only large businesses could afford the networking advantage. The OfficeConnect® product range from 3Com has changed all this, bringing networks to the small office. The products that compose the OfficeConnect range give you, the small office user, the same power, flexibility, and protection that has been available only to large corporations. Now, you can network the computers in your office, connect them all to a single Internet outlet, and harness the combined power of all of your computers. OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Router The OfficeConnect Wireless 11g Cable/DSL Router is designed to provide a cost-effective means of sharing a single broadband Internet connection amongst several wired and wireless computers. The Router also provides protection in the form of an electronic "firewall", preventing anyone outside of your network from seeing your files or damaging your computers. The Router can also prevent your users from accessing Web sites which you find unsuitable. Figure 1 shows an example network without a Router. In this network, only one computer is connected to the Internet. This computer must always be powered on for the other computers on the network to access the Internet.