SnapGear 1.7.8 Manuel D’Utilisation

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1. Introduction 
This chapter provides an overview of your SnapGear appliance’s features and 
capabilities, and explains how to install and configure your SnapGear appliance.
 
The SnapGear appliance enables small to medium-sized businesses to securely 
interconnect computers on your office network to the Internet. The SnapGear appliance 
has all the features a business needs to take full advantage of the Internet. Regardless of 
whether you are connecting to the Internet for the first time or looking for a cost-effective 
and safe VPN solution, the SnapGear appliance will meet your needs. 
The SnapGear appliance simply and securely interconnects your network to the Internet 
using a robust embedded firewall. Shielded behind a NAT gateway, your office 
computers are protected from outside threats. The SnapGear appliance filters and 
checks data packets to prevent unauthorized Internet applications accessing your 
network.  
The SnapGear appliance provides your network with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) 
server. A VPN enables remote workers or branch offices to securely access your 
company network to send and receive data at a very low cost. With the SnapGear 
appliance, you can remotely access your office network securely using the Internet. The 
SnapGear appliance can also connect to external VPNs as a client. 
Using your SnapGear appliance, everyone on your office LAN can access the Internet 
using a single connection. Your entire network can log on to the Internet using only one 
ISP account through one analog modem, DSL or ISDN line. This eliminates separate 
connections and ISP charges for each individual user. Using a dial-in modem connected 
to your SnapGear appliance, your remote staff can also securely access your office 
network using direct-dial. 
This manual describes how to take advantage of the features of your SnapGear 
appliance, including setting up an Internet connection, a secure firewall and a VPN. It 
also describes how to set up the SnapGear appliance on your existing or new network 
using the web configuration interface. 
Installing your SnapGear appliance into a well-planned network is quick and easy. 
Although network planning and design is outside the scope of this manual, please take 
the time to plan your network prior to installing your SnapGear appliance. 
Introduction 
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