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Chapter 4

Serial Port Configuration

This chapter describes how to configure the serial port options of your FVS328 ProSafe VPN

Firewall with Dial Back-up. The FVS328 serial port lets you share the broadband connection of

another FVS328, share resources between two LANs, and take advantage of the routing functions

on the broadband (WAN), LAN, and serial network interfaces.

Note

: If you configure the serial port of the FVS328 as the primary Internet connection, you will

not be able to configure the other serial port options. For instructions on configuring the serial port

as the primary Internet connection, please see

“Configuring a Serial Port as the Primary Internet

Connection“ on page 3-9

.

The FVS328 provides these serial port configuration options:

•

Modem

Use this option to configure the serial modem settings for any of the features below.

•

Auto-Rollover

Use this option to provide a backup connection for your broadband service. If the broadband

service you configured in the Basic Settings menu fails, the FVS328 will automatically

connect to the Internet through the serial port. However, you will then be accessing the

Internet at a slower speed than you would through your broadband service.

•

Dial-in

Dial-in lets a single remote computer connect to the FVS328 through the serial port to gain

access to LAN resources or a remote access server.

•

LAN-to-LAN

LAN-to-LAN enables direct communications between two FVS328 firewalls to:

—

Share resources on the two LANs.

—

Let users on one FVS328 share the Internet connection of the other FVS328.

—

Let users on one FVS328 connect to the Internet through the second FVS328 in case the

broadband connection of the first FVS328 fails.

The procedures for these configuration options are presented below.

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Configuring a Serial Port Modem

You can configure a serial port modem for any of the features described above.

Be sure you have prepared the basic requirements listed below, then follow the ‘how to’ procedure.

Basic Requirements for Serial Port Modem Configuration

Configuring a serial port modem requires these elements:

1.

A serial analog or ISDN modem.

2.

A serial modem cable with a DB9 connector.

3.

An active phone or ISDN line.

How to Configure a Serial Port Modem

Follow the steps below to configure a serial port modem.

1.

From the main menu, click

Modem

in the Serial Port section.

Figure 4-1:

Serial Port Modem configuration menu

2.

Select the Serial Line Speed.

This is the maximum speed the modem will attempt to use. For ISDN permanent connections,

the speeds are typically 64000 or 128000 bps. For dial-up modems, 56000 bps would be a

typical setting.

—

For ISDN, select “Permanent connection (leased line).”

—

For dial-up, “Standard Modem” should work in most cases. Otherwise, select your modem

from the list.

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—

If your modem is not on the list, select “User Defined” and enter the Modem Properties.

If you are using the “User Defined” selection and configuring your own modem stings, fill

in the Modem Properties settings.

Note:

You can validate modem string settings by first connecting the modem directly to a

PC, establishing a connection to your ISP, and then copying the modem string settings

from the PC configuration and pasting them into the FR328S Modem Properties Initial

String field. For more information on this procedure, please refer to the support area of the

NETGEAR web site.

3.

Click

Apply

to save your settings.

Configuring Auto-Rollover

You can configure the serial port of the FVS328 to provide an auto-rollover backup connection for

your broadband service.

Be sure you have prepared the basic requirements listed below, then follow the ‘how to’ procedure.

Basic Requirements for Auto-Rollover

Auto-Rollover requires these elements:

1.

A broadband connection to the FVS328.

2.

An ISDN or analog phone line with an active ISDN or dial-up ISP account

3.

A serial modem properly configured and attached to the DB9 connector on the serial port.

4.

The Auto-Rollover settings configured and applied to the FVS328.

How to Configure Auto-Rollover

Follow the steps below to configure a serial port auto-rollover connection.

1.

Configure a serial port modem according to the instructions above.

2.

From the main menu, click

Auto-rollover

in the Serial Port section.

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Figure 4-2:

Auto-Rollover configuration menu

3.

Configure the Auto-Rollover settings.

4.

Click

Apply

for the changes to take effect.

Configuring Dial-in on the Serial Port

Dial-in lets a single remote computer connect to the FVS328 through the serial port to gain access

to LAN resources or a remote access server.

Be sure you have prepared the basic requirements listed below, then follow the ‘how to’ procedure.

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Basic Requirements for Dial-in

Dial-in requires these elements:

1.

A broadband connection to the FVS328.

2.

An analog phone line.

3.

A serial modem properly configured and attached to the DB9 connector on the serial port.

4.

The Dial-in settings configured and applied to the FVS328.

How to Configure Dial-in

Follow the steps below to configure a serial port dial-in connection.

1.

Configure a serial port modem according to the instructions above.

2.

From the Serial Port section of the main menu, click

Dial-in

.

Figure 4-3:

Serial Port Dial-in settings screen

3.

Configure the Dial-in settings.

4.

Click

Apply

for the changes to take effect.