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Cisco 700 Series Router Key Features and Functions 197
Foundation Topics
Cisco 700 Series Router Key Features and Functions
The key features of a 700 router are:
·
Internet access for multiple users over one ISDN line--The Cisco 700 series router
enables multiple PCs to access the Internet simultaneously. This keeps users from having
to share a single PC with an Internet connection or rely on server-based hardware and
software. A single Cisco 700 series router can make everyone in the office more productive.
·
Affordable Internet connections for SOHOs--With the Cisco 700 series, there's no
need to install a separate ISDN card in every PC to provide Internet access to new users
and no need to have multiple ISDN lines or multiple Internet access accounts. The Cisco
700 series router includes everything you need for fast access, without the need for costly
added hardware or software in a dedicated PC or central server.
·
High-speed Internet connections--Unlike ISDN cards, the Cisco 700 series router does
not steal performance from a PC's main processor or add work for your central server. Fast
call setup with automatic dialup provides quick, automated connections to the Internet and
online services.
The functions of the 700 series router can be categorized into three feature sets: networking,
routing and WAN, and ISDN and telephony features. All are described in the sections that
follow.
Networking
The Cisco 700 series router offers full Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support, which includes
Password Authentication Protocol (PAP), Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol
(CHAP), and Multilink PPP. The Cisco 700 series router also supports data compression that is
compatible with the IOS feature set.
As mentioned, the 700 series router can also function as a DHCP server or relay agent to
provide address assignments for the network environment. In addition, the router can provide
port address translation (PAT) support for a small office's Internet connectivity.
In a small office environment, using the 700 series router as the DHCP server can offer the small
value-added reseller (VAR) the ability to control the address assignment without the need to
modify or maintain each client on the local network. This is a major benefit to the small VAR
from the standpoint of servicing the account. In addition, the use of PAT would give the small
office the necessary access to the Internet without the need for knowledge of the IP addresses
assigned locally. Both of these factors make this choice an ideal device for a small (four to ten)
node network to access the Internet, where the service is handled by a single VAR-managed
device.