3Com 3CR16110-95-US User Guide - Page 19

1 INTRODUCTION What is the SuperStack 3 Firewall? This chapter contains the following: I What is the SuperStack 3 Firewall? I Firewall and 3Com Network Supervisor I Firewall Features I Introduction to Virtual Private Networking (VPN) The SuperStack® 3 Firewall is a dedicated firewall appliance which is installed between a Private LAN and a Router. The Firewall is a complete network security system with all hardware and software pre-installed. This allows it to act as a secure gateway for all data passing between the Internet and the LAN. The purpose of the Firewall is to allow a private Local Area Network (LAN) to be securely connected to the Internet. You can use the Firewall to: I Prevent theft, destruction, and modification of data. I Filter incoming data for unsafe or objectionable content. I Log events which may be important to the security of your network. The Firewall has three Ethernet ports which are used to divide the network into separate areas. I The Wide Area Network (WAN) port attaches to the Internet access device, for example, Router or Cable Modem. I The Local Area Network (LAN) port attaches to the local network through hubs and switches. LAN users have access to Internet services such as e-mail, FTP, and the World Wide Web. However, all workstations and data on the LAN are protected from hacker attacks that might come through the WAN port.