What Should I Expect From The ADTRAN 3120?

One of the reasons that upgrading your network equipment can be so overwhelming is the huge range of options now available on the market.  Even if you just need a new router for your growing business, there are dozens of makes & model combinations to choose from, often with very slight differences in their feature sets.

This is an unfortunate necessity:  A router itself is a fairly simple, general-purpose piece of hardware, but individual business needs mean there are a lot of small model variations to target specific business niches. 

So, we like to occasionally discuss one of our products specifically, to talk about who it might work best for.  Today, we're taking a look at the ADTRAN Netvanta 3120, a cost-efficient model aimed mostly at smaller businesses on a budget.

What You Get From an ADTRAN NetVanta 3120

The NetVanta 3120 router is an ideal entry-level router for those in small-to-medium sized businesses who are looking to upgrade their existing network infrastructure without making major changes to their overall IT structure.

It is designed for businesses with DSL or Cable Internet service, utilizing a single 10/100 Base-T Ethernet connection for its input.  While it can be made to work with a faster-speed line like a T1, it's designed for businesses with relatively low bandwidth needs.  In fact, many of the best features of the ADTRAN 3120 are aimed specifically at reducing bandwidth costs.

The ADTRAN Netvanta 3120 comes with robust Quality of Service (QoS) subroutines that dynamically detect and adjust your company's bandwidth usage to provide the most connections with the lowest overall bandwidth use.  Several "smart" queueing systems always seek to prioritize packets for maximum efficiency.

This queueing can also be adjusted and maintained at will through the excellent ADTRAN AOS interface.  Its Command Line Interface mode uses the same command structure as most routers on the market, so experienced admins should need little to no additional training to use it.  There's also a full Windows-style graphic interface available with step-by-step procedures for those without training in CLI commands.

The ADTRAN 3120 also features an internal dial-up modem, which can be used to establish a backup service in case your primary Internet service goes out.  It also allows for remote access to the router if your admin needs to access it while on the road.

This is a fairly basic package of features. ADTRAN routers at the higher ends of the product line also contain more robust backup and remote-access options, but, again, such features are unnecessary for many businesses on a basic commercial-level DSL or Cable connection.

The ADTRAN 3120 is also ready for IP Telephony, and can be an excellent first step for smaller businesses looking to get away from traditional copper wire service.  While it lacks the integrated PBX interface of more advanced ADTRAN solutions, software interfaces still allow basic interactivity between your Voice-over-IP system and your copper wire telephone service.

One standard throughout all ADTRAN routing products is the security:  With ADTRAN, you get a high-quality firewall with intelligent attack detection software that automatically works to block any intrusions or remote attacks.  URL filtering can also be implemented at the router level, without the need for additional software, should you need to limit the websites your employees visit.

And, it's immediately inter-operable with all other ADTRAN networking solutions, so it can continue to grow alongside your network and continue to fulfill its role as the network expands.

So, as one of the lower-tier ADTRAN router offerings, the ADTRAN 3120 is mostly targeted at smaller businesses looking to take their first steps towards VoIP and a modern network setup.  If that describes you, the 3120 will be a simple, easy-to-use, and cost-effective solution to your network needs!