Linksys 4400N Series

The Linksys 4400N series of devices is targeted primarily to small business implementations and consists of a router, access point, and CardBus adapter. The devices combine to facilitate Wireless-N connectivity (based on Draft 802.11n) for client devices; connectivity that--according to the vendor--can exceed 100 Mb/sec speeds via the use of multiple radios in MIMO (Multiple In/Multiple Out) configurations.

Features in common to the devices include backward compatibility with 802.11b/g gear (802.11b/g adapters can connect to the 4400N AP; and the 4400N adapter can connect to 802.11b/g APs); support for WEP, WPA-PSK/ENT and WPA2-PSK2/ENT encryption; and support for 802.1x authentication. Additionally, the 4400N AP and Adapter, when used in combination, also supply basic rogue connection detection; automatically alerting you when a new unknown AP or a new unknown client connects to the WLAN. Continuous monitoring capabilities also enable seamless roaming from AP to AP. Finally, the 4400N Router and AP both support mixed-mode operation, allowing them to maintain maximum connection speeds when both 802.11n and older (802.11b/g) gear are both utilized in the WLAN.

Current offerings in the 4400N line include the Wireless-N Gigabit Security Router with VPN (WRVS4400N), Wireless-N Access Point (WAP4400N), and Wireless-N CardBus Adapter (WPC4400N).

The WRVS4400N includes 4 10/100/1000 Gigabit ports and includes both built in IPsec VPN (from remote clients or site to site) and intrusion prevention capabilities (IPS is free for the first year; subscription priced thereafter).

The WAP4400N supports PoE (it can be powered over the Ethernet connection when connected to a PoE supplying router) and additionally supports WMM (Wi-Fi MultiMedia) for the prioritization of wireless multimedia traffic. The AP supports up to 32 clients; but the vendor recommends 15 for best performance.

Finally, the WPC4400N is a 32-bit CardBus adapter with an included setup wizard for Windows 2000/XP notebooks.

The Access Point and CardBus adapter are available now, with estimated street prices of $169 and $129, respectively. The Router is expected to be available in September for $229.

Contact Cisco Systems for further information.