602Pro Lan Suite

Pros: Easy to implement, low cost, reliable, Fax
Cons: No Linux version

I have implemented a few times in SMEs, it is so easy to configure and I have found it really reliab ...

Pros: Easy to install easy to administer Inexpensive Packed with features Easy and inexpensive to upsize
Cons: No network address translation (yet) Have to manually set up proxy address in client machines.

I have installed 602 Prolan in 25 - 30 small schools and businesses over the last 3 years and have come to really enjoy it. The software has a large number of features including dhcp server, email server, web server, internet proxy, site filtering, packet filtering firewall, web browser access to mailboxes etc. We have found it is ideal for places that are growing but are not able to outlay huge amounts of money when starting out. It really is easy to set up and administer and very inexpensive. It does lack things like NAT which can be a problem in some places but a bonus in others (wont let you send files on ms messenger for instance which is often a plus in schools. once it is up and running it is easy to make changes to and not so expensive to increase the number of users required. The program can be run as a service on win 2k and winxp so it uses few resources. 602prolan can be configured via a web browser by administrators. There are loads of other features which we havent really used like the fax server and ssl mail and secure web server.

Pros: Free for up to five users.
Cons: Not many if your requirements are simple popmail

I have used this product in remote areas where broadband has so far failed to reach.
For me it's core benefit is to allow a small company with just a few workstations to be able to get all of their workers onto email for local internal use (Pop3) and at the same time to send email to contacts outside the building, all using just one 56k dialup connection.

The setup is really easy if you have a reasonable grasp of networking principals ans ha the added bonus of being controllable via a web interface.

Another benefit is to allow selected users to access selected websites via a proxy server. Control of web access is a bit crude but meets the needs of my customers nicely.

To summerise, it gives a very low cost solution to the simple requirements of a small office in a remote, off broadband location.