ZyXEL First to Market With SOHO Wireless Router with Built-in PEAP RADIUS Server; ZyAIR G-2000 Plus Offers Easy Implementation for Full WiFi Protected Access -WPA-Enterprise- at Significantly Less Cost

Business Wire, June 14, 2005

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- ZyXEL Communications Inc., a leading provider of secure broadband networking and Internet connectivity and routing products, will launch its ZyAIR G-2000 Plus 802.11b/g Wireless 4-port Router, a highly secure, wireless LAN solution with built-in PEAP RADIUS server this week at the WiFi/ VoWiFi Planet Spring trade show. For the first time, small office/home office (SOHO) and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) will have access to a built-in Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) server providing full WiFi Protected Access (WPA-Enterprise) with 802.1x authentication. Up until now, to achieve full WPA users had to purchase a RADIUS server which required a dedicated PC and expensive commercial RADIUS software or hard to configure Linux based RADIUS software.

The ZyAIR G-2000 Plus with built-in PEAP RADIUS server enables companies to implement WPA-Enterprise providing each user their own unique username and password. To date, wireless security has been an obstacle to business adoption of wireless networking because proper WPA implementation was too costly and complicated for small offices. Meanwhile, business users have been limited to WPA-PSK which uses one password that is shared by all users. With one password, protected access is susceptible to "brute force" attacks and revoking access, from an ex-employee for example, means changing password for all the other users. With WPA-Enterprise, the ZyAIR G-2000 Plus strengthens security and simplifies administration so now awarding or revoking access to users is effortless. In addition, ZyAIR G-2000 Plus can act as a PEAP RADIUS server for other APs on the network.

The ZyAIR G-2000 Plus delivers enterprise-level features in an easy-to-use and competitively priced package. The 802.11b/g wireless access point and 10/100 Mbps four-port switch allows a multiple-user connection to the Internet by using a single IP address and enhances network efficiency and access. The ZyAIR G-2000 Plus offers flexible configuration options including WebGUI, Telnet Access, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for easier network administration and maintenance.

"We developed the ZyAIR G-2000 Plus to address market demands for better wireless security. This is the first wireless router with a built-in PEAP server to offer WPA to the mass market," said Munira Brooks, vice president of sales, marketing and business development at ZyXEL. "Businesses can now provide greater security for their networks at a much more affordable price and pre-empt employees who are buying inexpensive and unsecured access points opening up corporate networks to major security risks."

The ZyAIR G-2000 Plus built-in PEAP RADIUS Server allows users to easily create a secure wireless network and access corporate networks from outside the physical premises. Digital certificates can be used in addition to usernames and passwords for additional security. Per user authentication allows for greater control and accountability while reducing administrative overhead.

The ZyAIR G-2000 Plus offers an improved Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall with Attack Alert and protection against Denial of Service (DoS), hackers, network intruders, and other hazardous threats.

Also on display at the WiFi/ VoWiFi Planet Spring trade show is the ZyAIR G-3000 802.11g Dual-Radio Business Access Point/Bridge/Repeater, a robust wireless networking solution. The ZyAIR G-3000 includes optional dual radio configuration and built-in bridging capability that enables users to quickly and efficiently create a robust Wireless LAN in areas not capable of being served by a standard Ethernet connection. Each G-3000 supports up to four wireless distribution system (WDS) bridge connections for flexible deployment options; bridging may be done repeatedly to create a chain of devices. Ideal for any larger WLAN deployment, the ZyAIR G-3000 dual-radio scenario allows one radio to provide wireless coverage for users while the other radio performs point-to-point (PTP) bridging for backhaul. The ZyAIR G-3000 also incorporates a built-in PEAP RADIUS server enabling companies to implement WPA-Enterprise.

Along with the ZyAIR G-2000 Plus and the ZyAIR G-3000, ZyXEL will be showcasing the Vantage RADIUS 50 Wireless LAN user authentication server. The Vantage RADIUS 50 features a 200 user database for providing 802.1X authentication on wireless LANs that use WPA-Enterprise or WPA2-Enterprise for network security and user authentication. In addition, the Vantage RADIUS 50 also offers user account database management, access log and SNMP remote administration functionalities. The Vantage RADIUS 50 offers SMBs an appliance-based server alternative to software-based solutions that significantly lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and daily maintenance costs.

Pricing and Availability

List price for the ZyAIR G-2000 Plus is $179, the ZyAIR G-3000 is $299, and the Vantage RADIUS 50 is $549. All products are available through ZyXEL's national network of authorized resellers or direct to consumers from ZyXEL. More information about the ZyAIR G-2000 Plus, the ZyAIR G-3000, and Vantage RADIUS 50 can be found at http://www.us.zyxel.com.