How to Take Part in this Big Party for Router-switch.com’s 10th Anniversary?

During the past ten years, from 2002 to 2012, router-switch.com has grown up into a global leading Cisco supplier. Indeed, it has experienced several vital moment. Here let’s share some router-switch.com’s big events:

2002, Router-switch.com was founded.

2003, Router-switch.com has experienced a rapid development.

2004, CCIE technical support team was built.

2005, The sales volume maintains 70% growth per year.

2006, Staff in company increased to 20.

2007, Router-switch.com established its marketing department. It attained its reputation in providing timely information of Cisco for clients and Cisco users.

2008, Router-switch.com adopted necessary advanced management tools to improve its service for clients.

2009, Router-switch.com upgraded warehouses in Hongkong and Mainland China. Its inventory is worth over $5 million.

2010, The sales of Router-switch.com have zoomed to $ 30 million.

2011, Router-switch.com released the new version to update service. It supplies free CCIE support. Social network platforms were opened to communicate with customers and clients well.

2012, New Office of router-switch.com landed in US to offer professional local service.

Nowadays, router-switch.com is becoming the world’s largest Cisco reseller online.  It believes that router-switch.com will bemore professional, more reliable and stronger with your support.

Note:A letter from CEO of router-switch.com to thank its customers and sharetheir progress.

More about Router-switch.com:

Router-switch.com, also called YejianTechnologies Co., Ltd, is the worldwide leader in delivering new, used, refurbished Cisco hardware, including Cisco routers, Cisco switches, firewall security, Cisco IP Phones VoIP, wireless AP, Cisco modules & cards, memory, and optical cables, SFP, GBIC, XENPK , etc. It carries over $5 million in inventory of Cisco hardware and Cisco equipment that can meet SOHO, small, midsized and large businesses of all sizes. Also Router-Switch.com owns more than 8,000 customers worldwide, not only because of its original Cisco products with reliable quality and competitive price, but also due to professionalservice, huge inventory, flexible payment and shipment. More information about router-switch.com can be found at http://www.router-switch.com/. For ongoing Cisco info, please go to

Blog.router-switch.com---News, tutorials, tips, info & thoughts on Developments in the Cisco, Cisco network, IT, Software & Network Hardware Industry

http://blog.router-switch.com/.

More Related Router-switch.com News:

Router-switch.com Announced Its Newly Redesigned Website

http://blog.router-switch.com/2012/09/router-switch-com-announced-its-newly-redesigned-website/

“Router Switch”, Our New Company Landing in U.S.—Professional Cisco Supply Service is Around You

http://blog.router-switch.com/2012/07/%E2%80%9Crouter-switch%E2%80%9D-our-new-company-landing-in-u-s-professional-cisco-supply-service-is-around-you/

Router-switch.com: A Batch of New Cisco Network Equipment Surprises the Coming Christmas Day

http://blog.router-switch.com/2011/12/router-switch-com-a-batch-of-new-cisco-network-equipment-surprises-the-coming-christmas-day/

Router-Switch.com Uploaded Thousands of New Cisco Products

http://blog.router-switch.com/2011/11/router-switch-com-uploaded-thousands-of-new-cisco-products/

Cisco Announced End-of-Sale and End-of-Life for Cisco Catalyst 3750/3560G&E Switches

Cisco announced the end-of-sale and end-of-life dates for the Cisco Catalyst 3750G, 3560G, 3750-E, and 3560-E Series Switches.The official end of sale date is January 30, 2013.As is tradition, support will be provided for 5 years following the last date of sale, so you have until 2018 for the last date of hardware support.

For reference, here's a quick list of dates:

• End-of-Sale Date - January 30, 2013
• Last Ship Date: HW - April 30, 2013
• End of Vulnerability/Security Support: OS SW - January 30, 2016
• Last Date of Support:HW - January 31, 2018

Customers with active service contracts will continue to receive support from the Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) as shown in Table 1 of the EoL bulletin. Table 1 describes the end-of-life milestones, definitions, and dates for the affected product(s). For customers with active and paid service and support contracts, support will be available until the termination date of the contract, even if this date exceeds the Last Date of Support shown in Table 1.

Please note that the list price of some of the products listed in this announcement may increase in the next 12 months.

Table1. End-of-Life Milestones and Dates for the Cisco Catalyst 3750G, 3560G, 3750-E, and 3560-E Series Switches

HW = Hardware OS SW = Operating System Software App. SW = Application Software

NOTE: More details of End-of-Sale and End-of-Life for Cisco Catalyst 3750/3560G&E Switches you can visit Cisco’s official announcement: Product Part Numbers Affected by This Announcement, Product Migration Options(Customers are encouraged to migrate to the Cisco Catalyst 3750-X and 3560-X Series Switches.…)

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps5023/eol_c51-696372_ps5528_Products_End-of-Life_Notice.html

Full lists for Cisco Catalyst 3750 Series Switches-End-of-Life and End-of-Sale Notices (from 2004-2012)

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps5023/prod_eol_notices_list.html

More Cisco Announcement and News Related to End-of-Life Cisco Hardware

What You Could Do While Facing End-of-Life Cisco Hardware

http://blog.router-switch.com/2012/08/what-you-could-do-while-facing-end-of-life-cisco-hardware/

Cisco Integrated Services Routers G1, EOL Announcement

http://blog.router-switch.com/2012/04/cisco-integrated-services-routers-g1-eol-announcement/

Which VPN Is Best for Your Small Business?

When choosing between IPSec and SSL, you might find you need both kinds of VPNs.

Mobile workers are a fact of life for most small businesses and that is often a good thing—for both the company and the employee or contractor. Users who have remote access to your small business network from their home offices or while traveling tend to be more productive and can helps save your company money. The trick, of course, is making sure that the mobile connections to your network are secure. For that, you need an encrypted virtual private network (VPN), which lets remote users safely connect to your network from any location with Internet access.

There are two different types of VPNs: Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Both VPNs allow you to remotely access network resources—providing a secure and private link to your network via the public Internet—but in different ways. Choosing the one that’s right for your small business depends on your existing (or planned) network hardware and the type of users who need remote access to the applications and data on your network.

IPSec vs. SSL VPNs

An IPSec VPN provides secure access to your entire small business network by encrypting data traveling between an IPSec gateway, which is installed on a router or security appliance, and an IPSec remote access client installed on an employee’s laptop or smartphone. An IPSec VPN gives users a network experience similar to sitting in the office with native access to all your applications.

An SSL VPN allows users to securely access only specific applications and services on the network via a web browser and is ideal for those small businesses that want to offer secure access to partners, contractors, consultants and suppliers by providing access to only specific applications and services inside their business network. An SSL VPN uses a web browser’s security capabilities to secure private network traffic. No special client application is necessary, so users can log into an SSL VPN from any device with a browser and an Internet connection. Because SSL VPNs use an Internet protocol, the applications users’ access through this type of VPN must be web-enabled.

In general, an IPSec VPN is more secure than an SSL VPN because it requires a special client and can’t be accessed by non-sanctioned Internet devices, like a public PC at the local library. It also gives employees access to more applications that don’t need a web version to function over the VPN. On the other hand, an SSL VPN makes it easier to give users access to web-based services such as email.

Should you choose one VPN over another, or both?

When deciding which type of VPN to install, the question isn’t so much “Which one is better?” but “Which one is better for my business?”. Both VPNs have their advantages, and you might even decide you need a “hybrid VPN”—an IPSec VPN for a certain group of users such as employees who need to access all the applications and data within the network and an SSL VPN for providing controlled access to specific applications and services that are pertinent to contractors, consultants, suppliers and partners etc.

In fact, depending on which hardware you choose to provide VPN functionality for your business, you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two VPN types. For instance, theCisco Small Business RV Series Routers has built-in IPSec VPN functionality, and some models, including the RV220W Wireless Network Security Firewall offer both IPSec and SSL VPNs.

Are you currently using a VPN for remote offices or mobile employees? Which did you choose—an IPSec or SSL VPN?When choosing between IPSec and SSL, you might find you need both kinds of VPNs

read more: cisco distributors, used cisco equipment, cisco used equipment, used network hardware

Which VPN Is Best for Your Small Business?

When choosing between IPSec and SSL, you might find you need both kinds of VPNs.
Mobile workers are a fact of life for most small businesses and that is often a good thing—for both the company and the employee or contractor. Users who have remote access to your small business network from their home offices or while traveling tend to be more productive and can helps save your company money. The trick, of course, is making sure that the mobile connections to your network are secure. For that, you need an encrypted virtual private network (VPN), which lets remote users safely connect to your network from any location with Internet access.

There are two different types of VPNs: Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Both VPNs allow you to remotely access network resources—providing a secure and private link to your network via the public Internet—but in different ways. Choosing the one that’s right for your small business depends on your existing (or planned) network hardware and the type of users who need remote access to the applications and data on your network.

IPSec vs. SSL VPNs
An IPSec VPN provides secure access to your entire small business network by encrypting data traveling between an IPSec gateway, which is installed on a router or security appliance, and an IPSec remote access client installed on an employee’s laptop or smartphone. An IPSec VPN gives users a network experience similar to sitting in the office with native access to all your applications.

An SSL VPN allows users to securely access only specific applications and services on the network via a web browser and is ideal for those small businesses that want to offer secure access to partners, contractors, consultants and suppliers by providing access to only specific applications and services inside their business network. An SSL VPN uses a web browser’s security capabilities to secure private network traffic. No special client application is necessary, so users can log into an SSL VPN from any device with a browser and an Internet connection. Because SSL VPNs use an Internet protocol, the applications users’ access through this type of VPN must be web-enabled.

In general, an IPSec VPN is more secure than an SSL VPN because it requires a special client and can’t be accessed by non-sanctioned Internet devices, like a public PC at the local library. It also gives employees access to more applications that don’t need a web version to function over the VPN. On the other hand, an SSL VPN makes it easier to give users access to web-based services such as email.

Should you choose one VPN over another, or both?
When deciding which type of VPN to install, the question isn’t so much “Which one is better?” but “Which one is better for my business?”. Both VPNs have their advantages, and you might even decide you need a “hybrid VPN”—an IPSec VPN for a certain group of users such as employees who need to access all the applications and data within the network and an SSL VPN for providing controlled access to specific applications and services that are pertinent to contractors, consultants, suppliers and partners etc.

In fact, depending on which hardware you choose to provide VPN functionality for your business, you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two VPN types. For instance, theCisco Small Business RV Series Routers has built-in IPSec VPN functionality, and some models, including the RV220W Wireless Network Security Firewall offer both IPSec and SSL VPNs.

Are you currently using a VPN for remote offices or mobile employees? Which did you choose—an IPSec or SSL VPN?When choosing between IPSec and SSL, you might find you need both kinds of VPNs

---Original Reading you can visit: used cisco, refurbished cisco, cisco product, cisco wholesale
http://blogs.cisco.com/smallbusiness/which-vpn-is-best-for-your-small-business/
More Related: How to Choose VPN for Your Small Business?
http://irisdan.livejournal.com/16983.html

Connecting Cisco Router/Switch through Console Port and Troubleshooting

What is Console Port of Cisco Switch /Router?
Every Cisco router/switch has a console port on its back. It is there to provide a way to hookup a terminal to the router in order to work on it. The console port (sometimes called the management port) is used by administrators to log into a router directly — that is, without a network connection. The console must be used to install routers onto networks because, of course, at that point there is no network connection to work through.

Connecting the Console Port to a PC

Console (rollover) Cable and Adapters
The console cable can be:
•    RJ-45-to-RJ-45 console cable
•    RJ-45-to-DB-9 adapter
Making the physical connection
Follow these steps to connect the Router/Switch to a terminal or PC running terminal emulation software:
Step 1 Locate the console port on the back of the Router/Switch.

Step 2 Connect the console (or rollover) cable to the console port on the Router/Switch.

Step 3 Use the correct adapter to connect the other end of the cable to your terminal or PC.

Step 4 If your terminal or PC has a console port that does not fit one of the adapters, you must provide the correct adapter for that port.

Connecting using HyperTerminal
Click on the HyperTerminal icon below to launch a pre-configured HyperTerminal connection. This connection is configured for use with all Cisco Router/Switches. (The Router/Switch should be connected to your laptop at this time.

Depending on your browser settings, you may initially see a message asking whether you want to open the file or save it to disk. To launch the connection now, select the "open" option. To save the connection to your local hard-drive for future use, select the "save" option.

If you selected the "open" option, you should now be communicating with the Router/Switch. If you are experiencing problems, make sure the

Router/Switch is powered on; you are attached to the proper Com Port and verify your cabling.

Setting up a HyperTerminal connection file
Using this procedure you will create a named connection that you can save and reuse. (This creates a connection identical to the one provided above, and is included primarily for your reference.)

To set up a HyperTerminal connection on your laptop:

Step 1 Click the Start button on the Windows Taskbar, and select Programs > Accessories > Communications > HyperTerminal. HyperTerminal launches and displays the Connection Description dialog box.

Alternatively, if you previously saved a connection for Cisco equipment, you can launch it by selecting Programs > Accessories > Communications > HyperTerminal >connection_name.

Step 2 Type in a name and optionally select an Icon to represent your HyperTerminal session. Click OK. The Phone Number window appears.

Step 3 Locate the Connect Using field near the bottom of the Phone Number window. Select "Direct to COM1" from the drop-down list to indicate that this connection is a local session (and not a dial-up session). Click OK. The COM1 Properties window appears.

Step 4 On the Port Settings tab, enter the following settings:
•    Speed - 9600
•    Data Bits - 8
•    Parity - none
•    Stop bits - 1
•    Flow Control - none

Step 5 Click OK to make the connection. The COM1 Properties window disappears. You should now see a blinking cursor in the HyperTerminal terminal window.

If there are any problems at this point, then see below the Troubleshooting console port problems to isolate and fix the problem.

Troubleshooting console port problems

SYMPTOM: No connection.
•    Check your laptop's settings to see if COM1 is loaded.
•    Click on Start > Settings > Control Panel. Within the Control Panel window, open the Systems icon. Choose the Device Manager tab, and ensure that COM1 is an option on the Ports drop-down list. If COM1 is missing, reboot your laptop and repeat this check. It should now appear.
SYMPTOM: No response from Router/Switch once connected to Router/Switch via console.
•    Check to ensure you are using the correct cable (roll-over as opposed to straight through).
•    Verify that HyperTerminal is configured to use the correct communications port.
SYMPTOM: Only getting garbage from the Router/Switch.
Ensure HyperTerminal is setup using the correct speed -- 9600 Baud.

What’s the Difference between LAN & WAN?

There are two basic types of network, the LAN and WAN. LAN stands for local area network and WAN stands for wide area network. There are obvious differences between the two cisco  network hardware types.

Speaking of local area networks, they are smaller networks, usually within an office base. Connections between the workstations are physical, with cables, and all the office resources are shared and distributed between the network workstations. The most common type of LAN is that of Ethernet. This is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for LANs.

WAN, or wide area networks, are broader geographic networks, like one city to another. They are more of a collection of interconnected LAN networks. Other WANs, provided by service providers, connect local networks to the Internet. In actual fact the Internet is more a specific Internetwork, not a straight WAN.

While LANs are smaller, collectively they can be linked to create the WAN. This really is done using a series of routers, and bridges, which are basically cisco network equipment devices which enable interconnectivity between separate LANs. With the option of expanding into small-scale WANs,
the real contrasting features of LANs in comparison to WANs is that of their data transfer rate, need for leased lines and geographical range. LANs are faster, with 10 GB data transfer rates. Likewise, as has been mentioned, LANs encompass a smaller geographical area. WANs also rely on common carriers, while LANs do not.

Aside from these differences users of a LAN will more likely need password validation as it will have specific user rights. While smaller WANs might also have this, it is less likely. LAN networks will generally be more private than WAN networks, and will have some sort of networking software and probably a network administrator. Hardware resources are shared on a LAN, while with a WAN the focus is more on communications.

The network topology of LANs is often peer-to-peer. That is to say, each client shares is resources with other workstations in the network. WAN networks will operate on a more cisco supplier client-to-server basis with interconnected LANs. Really, this entire means is that the resources are requested from a central server.

One other big difference between the networks is the cost to set up a LAN in relation to a WAN. A single LAN network will be cheaper to set up than that of a larger WAN, with more workstations and more hardware connection requirements with the need for a leased line. In essence, one big LAN in comparison to a small WAN will be the cheaper option.

So, the differences between LANs and WANs are indeed greater than just that of size. There are differences in network topology, cisco hardware requirements, software requirements as well as technical specifications and cost.

What is Cisco Chassis, Backplane, and Line Card?

Chassis, You Know Here:
A Chassis is a frame/housing for mounting the circuit components for refurbished cisco equipment Switches and Routers or any type of devices that provides power and a high-speed backplane. The frame also protects all of the vital internal equipment from dust, moisture, and tampering.

Making the Chassis to define even easier is;
A chassis is an enclosure; a container that holds things together... i.e. an egg carton holds eggs together inside. A chassis does the same thing; it holds the important things inside like wiring, power supplies etc.


General info of Backplane
Backplane is a circuit board with sockets that allows Supervisor engines Cards or modules to be inserted into these sockets and connect them to each other. Backplane is mounted on the Chassis.

Modules or line cards provide different types of interfaces, but the processing of packets is usually done in the Supervisor engine. cisco refurbished Backplane is the medium for data flow between modules and Supervisor engines.

Additionally, most high-end switches off-load processing away from the supervisors, allowing line cards to switch traffic directly between ports on the same card without using any processing power or even touching the backplane. Naturally, this can't be done for all traffic, but basic layer-2 switching can usually be handled exclusively by the line card, and in many cases also more complex operations can be handled as well.

What is Line Card?
The line cards provide interfaces to the network.


A line card can terminate a line supporting voice POTS service, ISDN service, DSL service, or proprietary ones. Some line cards are capable of terminating more than one type of service.
Since an access buy network hardware element is usually intended to interface many users (typically a few thousands) some exchanges have multiple line terminations per card. Similarly, it is common to have many line cards in the same network element.

A line card or Digital Line Card is a modular electronic circuit on a printed circuit board, the electronic circuits on the card interfacing the telecommunication lines coming from the subscribers (such as copper wire or optical fibers) to the rest of the telecommunications access network.

A line card commonly interfaces the twisted pair cable of a POTS local loop to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Telephone line cards used in PSTN perform multiple tasks such as analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion of voice, off-hook detection, ring supervision, line integrity tests, and other BORSCHT functions. In some telephone exchange designs the line used cisco cards generate ringing current and decode DTMF signals. The line card in a Subscriber Loop Carrier is commonly called a Subscriber Line Interface Card (SLIC).

Cisco ASA 5500 Series, Best Guard for Business’ Security

AS hacker or virus attack spreading faster and faster, the network safety faced into a serious situation. You knowthis problem may bring some very terrible consequences such as destroying the operation of business, revealing very important or core information. What should we deal with these? The answer is to select a Cisco Firewall Security, for example, Cisco ASA 5500 series, especially asa5505 50 bun k9, which can help businesses increase effectiveness and efficiency in protecting their networks and applications while delivering exceptional investment protection throughmarket-proven security capabilities, extensible integrated services architecture, reduced deployment and operations costs and comprehensive management interfaces.

The Cisco ASA 5500 Series includes the Cisco ASA 5505, 5510, asa 5520 csc10 k9, 5540, 5550, 5580, and 5585-X Adaptive Security Appliances-purpose-built, high-performance security solutions that take advantage of Cisco's expertise in developing industry-leading, award-winning security and VPN solutions.

Through the Cisco MPF, the Cisco ASA 5500 Series brings a new level of security and policy control to applications and networks.

Let’s check one of Cisco ASA 5500 Series: Cisco ASA 5540-BUN-K9, better choice for your business’ network.

Product Details
Device Type	Security appliance
Enclosure Type	Rack-mountable - 1U
Dimensions (WxDxH)	44.5 cm x 33.5 cm x 4.4 cm
Weight	9.1 kg
RAM Installed ( Max )	1 GB
Flash Memory Installed (Max)	64 MB Flash
Data Link Protocol	Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Network / Transport Protocol	IPSec
Performance	Firewall throughput : 650 Mbps ¦ VPN throughput : 325 Mbps ¦ Connection rate : 25000 connections per second
Capacity	Concurrent sessions : 400000 ¦ IPSec VPN peers : 5000 ¦ SSL VPN peers : 2 ¦ Virtual interfaces (VLANs) : 200
Features	Firewall protection, VPN support, load balancing, VLAN support, High Availability
Power	AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

The Cisco ASA 5540 Adaptive Security Appliance scales with businesses as their network security requirements grow, delivering exceptional investment protection and services scalability. The advanced network and application layer security services and anti-x defenses provided by the asa5520 csc10 k9 Adaptive Security Appliance can be extended by deploying a high performance Security Services Module. (more details you can see Cisco ASA 5500 Series at Cisco.com)

Purchasing info…

Manufacturer: Cisco

Part Code: ASA5540-BUN-K9

Features: Firewall protection, VPN support, load balancing, VLAN support, High Availability

Data Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

Device Type: Security appliance

Enclosure Type: Rack-mountable - 1U

List price:  US$16,995.00

Wholesale Price: US$7,648.00

You Save:  US$9,347.00 (55.00% OFF)

Tel: +852-3174-6166 (Hong Kong)

Fax: +852-3050-1066 (Hong Kong)

MSN: cisco@router-switch.com.

Email: cisco@router-switch.com (Sales Inquiries)/ webmaster@router-switch.com (Technical Inquiries)

Tips: Cisco embeds network firewall security throughout the network and integrates security services in all its products. cisco asa 5510 k9 As a result, network firewall security becomes a transparent, scalable, and manageable aspect of the business infrastructure.

Instructionsto Maximize Bandwidth in Cisco Routers

The Cisco Corporation makes wireless routers that connect to the Internet and then send RF signals to devices such as laptops or smart phones. The bandwidth of the router is the measurement of how much data is actually received by the satellite devices. The bandwidth of the Cisco router IOS can be increased by upgrading the antenna, positioning the router in a specific location or making sure all the wireless equipment is from Cisco, and not a third party company.

Things You'll Use
•    Cisco router
•    Cisco uni-directional antenna
•    Cisco wireless card

Howto Maximize Bandwidth in Cisco Routers?
1. Replace the antenna on the Cisco wireless router from the factory standard omnidirectional antenna to a unidirectional antenna. Firmly grip the existing antenna at the base and twist counter-clockwise until the antenna disconnects. Place the base of the new antenna at the connection point of the router and twist clockwise.

2. Angle the oscillating tip of the antenna towards the device that is using the internet, or the room in which the device is primarily used. Turn off the cisco router configuration and then restart it ten seconds later. Wait for device to start receiving new signal.

3. Reposition the Cisco router in an environment where many devices in multiple areas need access. Keep the router as high up in the room as possible, on a high shelf or cabinet. Keep the router away from obstructions, and never inside a drawer or enclosure, to ensure the signal is being transmitted as powerfully as possible.

4. Use only Cisco wireless cards (external and internal) in the devices being used for Internet access. Replace the card in the computers to any Cisco brand products, as the Cisco equipment is built to work together.

MORE NOTES: 10 Tips to Increase the Range of Your Wireless Network
1. Upgrade routers and wireless network adapters to (interim) 802.11n. Ever since January 2004, when the IEEE announced that it had formed a task group to develop a new flavor of the 802.11 standard for wireless local-area networks - 802.11n - customers have been demanding to buy the new hardware. Why? Even though the standard is not due for final approval until July 2007, it promises to deliver far greater range and throughput -- up to 50 times greater than b-standard, and 10 times greater than the a- or g-standard. Of course all interim n implementations are backward-compatible with some or all of the current flavors of 802.11 -- but if you introduce an a-, b- or g-standard client into an n-standard network, your hot new n-standard router will slow down. So upgrade wireless adapters and routers at the same time.

2. Move the router off the floor and keep it as far as possible from walls and metal objects. As we mentioned earlier, metal, walls and floors wreak havoc with your router's wireless signal. The more of these obstacles your router needs to punch through to reach your notebook, the worse the interference, and the slower your connection will be.

3. Place your router (or access point) in a central location in the office.If your wireless router is at one end of the office (or your home), the signal will have farther to go to reach the other end. Using a central spot splits the difference.

4. Upgrade your router's antenna. Most routers come with an omni-directional antenna --meaning that it broadcasts and receives in all directions with equal efficiency. If you don't know where your receiving notebooks will be, or if they are indeed scattered in a random 360-degree pattern, omni-directional is fine. However, if (as is most often the case) your router is near an outside wall, with most of the network computers in a 180-degree pattern in one direction only (that is, toward the opposite outside wall), you are wasting half of the router's signal. If you upgrade to a hi-gain directional antenna that focuses the wireless signals in only one direction, you can maximize the efficiency of the system by aiming the signal in the direction you need it.

5. Upgrade the antenna for your notebook’s wireless network adapter. Wireless network signals must be received and sent reliably by your remote computer. Sometimes, even if your router is broadcasting effectively, your computer can't send a strong signal back. Most notebook wireless adapters use an omni-directional antenna. You can improve reception considerably by replacing your laptop's PC card-based wireless network adapter with a high-gain, low-cost, range-boosting adapter with an external antenna.

6. Check your wireless channel, and change it if necessary. Wireless routers use one of 11 possible channels to broadcast. If another wireless network nearby happens to be broadcasting on the same channel your router is using, both networks will experience severe loss of range and power. You can use the wireless software on your notebook to find out how many wireless networks are active in the area, and which channels each is using. If you discover that another network is using the same channel as your router, log into the router via your browser and use its built-in configuration screen to select an unused channel. Chances are your signal strength will improve significantly. (You don't need to adjust your notebook; it's designed to automatically detect the network's new channel.)

7. Invest in a wireless repeater, ortwo. Wireless repeaters (or access points) extend your wireless network's range with no need to install additional wiring. Just buy one or more wireless APs, place them roughly halfway between your previous wireless access point and your computer,cisco router command and power them on. Voila! You now have an instant boost to your wireless signal strength. There are many affordable wireless repeaters on the market; all the major vendors make them. If you buy one like Apple's Airport you can even use it to stream wireless music to your stereo at the same time you're extending your wireless range.

8. Update your router's firmware and your network adapter's drivers. Hardware vendors are always upgrading and improving their wireless equipment to increase range and performance -- and most of those upgrades are free. Check for new firmware updates at your router manufacturer's Web site, as well as the site of your wireless adapter card. Microsoft also updates the drivers that Windows uses to communicate with your network adapter. To get those updates, visit Microsoft Update and click "Hardware, Optional."

9. Reduce wireless interference. Cordless phones, microwave ovens, and other wireless electronics in your home or office can interfere with your wireless network. To improve reception, look for cordless phones and other electronics that use the 5.8 GHz or 900 MHz frequencies. They won't interfere.

10. Use equipment from a single vendor. While every router will work pretty well with every network adapter (assuming their respective flavors of 802.11 are compatible), you will often get better performance if you match a router and network adapter from the same vendor. cisco router sale Some vendors like Linksys offer a boost of up to twice the performance when you use their hardware exclusively.