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EmergeCore Offers 'IT in a Box': Page 2 of 3

Bad

• Can't share printers
• Limited CLI
• Can't use a VPN, or share files or printers between the wireless AP and the hub

• Limited low-level error reporting

IT-100, $1,395. EmergeCore Networks, (208) 947-8555. www.emergecore.com

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Additionally, the device lacks a real telnet or console interface. With an enterprise-class product, you should be able to log into a console and manipulate the system. The IT-100's console interface is trapped in "stupid user" mode; it only lets you view (but not edit) the IP address information, reset the administrator password and restore the system to factory defaults. This meant I could not enable the firewall, DHCP server or DNS from the interface.

Finally, the IT-100 won't let you share printers. To get around this, you can share a printer off another local machine or use an HP JetDirect-style device, but I'd like to see EmergeCore add this functionality.

You can enable and disable some of the IT-100's functions. For example, you can turn off the wireless AP for offices that don't need it and still have it available for future use. The office staff can add and remove users through the interface, or you can connect via a Web browser and do it yourself. Windows file sharing is useful, and the IT-100 provides plenty of room to share files: I figured about 15 GB of the hard drive could be used for this purpose if you do not build too many custom Web pages.