Content

AppGate A1

The AppGate A1 system runs on a Sun Microsystems SunFire v100 under SunOS 5.9. Although configuring the device is simple, AppGate will set it up with the relevant network addresses for you if you provide the data beforehand. All you need to do is to install it in the rack, connect it to the network and power it up. The system is administered using the AppGate Console application.

This is not a command line interface, but a Java application with a simple, effective, two-pane graphical interface. Online help is available from most of the configuration panels and the system tool bar.

The system can support different platforms, including Windows, Linux, Solaris and MacOS, as both client and management systems.

There are several types of client available, but the three main types are AppGate Client, AppGate Connect and AppGate applet. These provide similar functions, but are designed for different sorts of user. The first two can be installed on the client system as applications, while the applet is simply loaded via the browser at run time.

The Client allows the user to change some parameters, such as server addresses and passwords, port numbers and cryptography algorithms. The Connect software, aimed at users who do not need to change these parameters, provides the same kinds of access to services as the full client software (so does the applet, which is effectively the Connect software in applet form).

There are further specialized clients for Citrix and Windows Terminal Servers, and a mobile client for PDAs and cellphones. Access to any service is controlled by a security system that can integrate with several external authentication resources, as well as using its own internal user database. All security parameters are stored in the AppGate device.

Logging is comprehensive, and the logs can be analyzed by several criteria, with the results displayed either in graphical form or simply displayed and scanned for particular entries. The system can monitor threshold levels on various system components and can send email alerts and trigger SNMP traps as required.

Product title
AppGate A1
Product info
Name: AppGate A1 (SSL VPN group test) Description: Price: $13,200 (25 concurrent users)
Strength
The system provides good support for platforms other than Windows.
Weakness
The Quick Start Guide could do with a few more configuration examples.
Verdict
A versatile system with an attractive multiple platform support capability.

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