Netgear FVL328 Cable/DSL ProSafe High-Speed VPN Firewall Router

by Netgear

Product Details

Product Manual [6.40mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007E6YD
• Item model number: FVL328NA
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #163,116 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 17, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Drive down the total cost of your network with Netgear's FVL328 ProSafe High-Speed VPN Firewall. For little more than the price of a typical NAT router, you get a completely equipped high-performance, broadband-capable Virtual Private Network (VPN) firewall. A low cost device that's high on security, this true firewall provides Denial of Service (DoS) protection and Intrusion Detection using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), URL access and content filtering, logging, reporting, and real-time alerts. It initiates up to 100 IPSec VPN tunnels simultaneously, reducing your operating costs and maximizing the security of your network. Plus, with eight auto-sensing, Auto Uplink switched LAN ports and Network Address Translation (NAT) routing, up to 253 users can access your broadband connection at the same time.

Netgear's FVL328 initiates up to 100 IPSec VPN tunnels simultaneously, allowing for secured connections to branch offices and your "on-the-go" mobile workforce. Network Address Translation routing enables shared access to your broadband connection, and transparent routing allows for customized network configuration. It includes Web page URL content filtering and 168-bit 3DES IPSec encryption capability. Sends you e-mail notification of network activity reporting and tracking of hacker attempts - as well as real-time alerts. And the high-powered 150 MHz CPU ensures speedy data traffic.

Smart Wizard connects to your ISP quickly and reduces setup time with the user-friendly Web-based configuration screen and Install Assistant. With remote administration capability, it is simple to connect to multiple sites. This well-built firewall has an integrated 8-port 10/100 Mbps switch and is compatible with Windows, UNIX, Macintosh, and Linux O/S. It comes with an Ethernet cable and Auto Uplink on the LAN ports eliminates the need for crossover cables.

Lastly, with the FVL328 you can make a VPN connection to other VPN devices or connect through client software. Support for DHCP (client and server) as well as PPPoE allows for easy, widespread deployment. The rugged metal unit houses advanced, high-quality chip sets, and Netgear's tested and proven technology is backed by a 3-year warranty.

Product Description

NETGEAR FVL328NA -- Drive down the total cost of your network with this Cable / DSL VPN Firewall Router. For little more than the price of a typical NAT router, you get a completely equipped high performance, broadband capable Virtual Private Network ( VPN ) firewall. High powered 150 MHz CPU ensures speedy data traffic Smart Wizard connects to your ISP quickly; user-friendly Web based configuration screen Compatible with Windows, UNIX, Macintosh, and Linux OS Includes an Ethernet cable Auto Uplink on LAN ports eliminates the need for crossover cables 3 year warranty

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do Not Buy This Item, October 10, 2003

By 

Gene Bohn (Bristol, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Netgear FVL328 Cable/DSL ProSafe High-Speed VPN Firewall Router (Personal Computers)

This is sold at a premium price and should be a premium product. It is NOT; it is high priced junk that should not have gotten past their Quality Department into the market.

The first unit lasted 3 weeks on a network of 4 users with a DSL rated @ 384 Kbps.

The tech service people refused to believe their unit could be at fault and blamed it on the ISP. I replaced this $450 router with a $50 one and all worked fine.

After a 2 hour wait for a Level 2 tech, I was issued a replacement unit. This unit, with serial # 4952, replaced one with a 125 serial # so I assumed the bug had been resolved. This unit died after 35 minutes of use.

I then called Netgear Tech Service people again and waited 2.5 hours for a Level 2 Technician. A recording came on telling me that they were too busy (after I waited for them for 2.5 hours) and told me to call at a later date and disconnected me.

I fired off a short letter to Netgear's Technical VP and CEO - which created a response. They offered to get me a new unit, stress test it, and send it to me. Then someone called and told me that it will take a week to get a suitable unit. I am still waiting - a week after the second unit died.

I had a very similar experience with their FVS 318 in Feb 2003 - where it took 3 units to get one that worked. I gave Netgear a second chance then. At this point however, I will no longer use Netgear equipment. I am an installer and I just cannot afford the labor associated with their faulty products.

As I told Netgear people - Stop rushing product to market before it is ready. The recall expense will hurt badly; the upset customers will go away. They did not heed my advice in Feburary and now, after I gave them an ample second chance, I do not intend to use Netgear routers again.

I strongly recommend you do the same unless you like to replace and replace and replace hoping to get something that works.

It is too bad for Netgear - but some people only learn the hard way. I guess they are one of them.

I wrote the above on Oct 10, 2003. It is now Feb. 22, 2004. Netgear does not have a fix as of today for this problem. They issued me a less costly FVS 318 as an interim fix in late October 2003 with the intent to have the FVL 328 repaired and restored. To date, there is no fix and this has been confirmed by an e mail to me of a few weeks ago.

I regret to take this harsh stance, I fully understand the technical problems in bringing a product to market and the unsuspected probems that can arise. However, the manufacturer is responsible for bringing a dependable product to market and this clearly did not happen in this case. For Netgear's sake, I hope they have overhauled their product introduction procedures or they will not survive with new product launch. For those considering a gateway router, I continue to recommend they not buy this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not to Bad - Support could have been better, July 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Netgear FVL328 Cable/DSL ProSafe High-Speed VPN Firewall Router (Personal Computers)

I own this product for about a year now and it has worked OK for 7 users connected and sharing a DSL Connection.

Netgear Support absolutely sucks, especially after 90 days of ownership. All they do is direct you to their premium phone support or to free email support which in turn directs you to their premium phone support. For top notch support go with linksys.

The Dynamic DNS they offer through works for short period and then generates DNS query error, good luck solving that. I would say that the firewall and security settings are a bit better then the $50-$90 dollar units.

To use the router as a VPN server for remote users, you need Netgears Client software. Windows VPN connection does not work, since it requares L2TP or PPTP termination which this router does not support. I think it will pass through those connections in which case you need a seperate VPN server like Windows 2000 Server edition OS.

If you decide to go with this router, please make sure you are ready to configure all the options you want this router to do (Dynamic DNS, VPN, Office to office connection, etc.). because if the support period passes you are on your own. Call the premium support and you have to pay nomater if they fix the problem or not.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars FVL328 Makes the Grade, March 4, 2005

By 

Scott O'Marney "Scotto" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Netgear FVL328 Cable/DSL ProSafe High-Speed VPN Firewall Router (Personal Computers)

I purchased an FVL328 over a year ago and it has been working 24x7 without any problems. This unit is not for the home "computer expert" as you have to have a clue on setting rules etc.

I am using latest V2.06 firmware and have been successful running MS VPN via passthrough mode to terminate in MS ISA2000 firewall and using syslog into secure lan and running 7 Ip addresses on external (DSL) interface.

The unit is good for supporting my 1000/256 dsl connection which
services an SBS2000 server, 2 Win2000 servers and 10 workstations.

Anyone wanting to run a PS2 will find that SONY's security implementation is a pain in the a@#$se so the only way is to use the DMZ option in the WAN interface settings.

The logs clearly indentify type of traffic in/outbound and rules/filtering works well. The FVL328 does suffer if you chose to open large ranges of ports but those trying should have their heads read.

Overall a cost effective unit and for those with a clue