Best Small Office/Branch Office Router

3Com Leads In The Branch Office Race

No part of the network computing market has been as hot as small routers, with only one or two WAN connections and only one or two LAN connections. Vendors have been aggressively driving down prices while adding more and more features to their offerings.
3Com invented the phrase "branch office routing," and its NETBuilder Remote delivers the concept. The NETBuilder Remote's performance ranks at the top of the scorecard for branch office routers. But speed isn't everything, particularly when connecting remote offices: The NETBuilder Remote's ease of management makes it a winner. The NETBuilder Remote is easy to configure, install and maintain--and that's what you want from a small remote office router.
While some may argue that the command-line interface of the NETBuilder Remote shouldn't define "easy," network managers who have a large number of remote routers will appreciate the ability to create configurations off line and then download the scripts. This is the only way to go, even if you are managing only a modest number of remote routers.
3Com is not alone here, however. Cisco has come roaring into the market with its 2501 system, and Hewlett-Packard is at the right end of the price curve with its 27289B AdvanceStack Router 240. For some time, Cisco had been absent from the market, but over the past year it has made numerous acquisitions and product introductions and now has an extensive product line. HP has an impressive product, but with fewer features, at a very attractive price. If cos t is a concern, look at HP's 27289B.
When shopping for branch office routers, we suggest you look at 3Com first and use it as a benchmark by which all others should be measured. Look around carefully, because all the vendors continue to enhance their products and 3Com will have to work hard to stay on top.

NETBuilder Remote Office, $2,495, 3Com Corp., 5400 Bayfront Plaza,
Santa Clara, CA 95052.
(408) 764-5000; fax (408) 764-5001.

Runners-Up
Cisco 2501, Cisco Systems,
170 West Tasman Dr.,
San Jose, CA 95134-1706.
(800) 553-6387; (408) 526-4000;
fax (408) 526-4100.

HP 27289B AdvanceStack
Router 240, Hewlett-Packard Co., 8000 Foothills Blvd.,
Roseville, CA 95678. (916) 786-8000;
fax (916) 785-2826.