FAIRFIELD: Critical Links, a global provider of converged ICT (information and communications technology) solutions for SMBs, has announced the availability of new value-added features in its flagship product, the edgeBOX. The features, as part of release 4.6, provide edgeBOX users with new levels of fault tolerance and security, while simplifying provisioning and making the product even easier to use. In addition, the new release expands the hardware that is supportable by edgeBOX.

"In order to compete effectively with larger rivals, SMBs need access to cutting edge capabilities at an affordable cost, and the edgeBOX aims to provide just that," said Abdul Kasim, vice president, global marketing and business development at Critical Links. "With its newest release, edgeBOX not only continues to provide the broadest suite of voice/data networking and IT capabilities, but also augments the fault-tolerance and security increasingly necessary for continuous business operations."

Critical Links' edgeBOX is a multi-service business gateway appliance, which provides a full fledged VOIP/ IP-PBX and a host of data and IT services in a single device, while dramatically reducing complexity and deployment costs. Highlights of the new features in release 4.6 include:

Fault-Tolerance

The edgeBOX offers a hot stand-by option that allows customers to have complete 1-on-1 redundancy for the entire platform. Employing this option eliminates a single point of failure, which is of particular concern to SMBs whose entire communication & IT infrastructure is increasingly being deployed on a single physical unit.

Now with 4.6, the edgeBOX also has a hot stand-by-option for the spare RAID, and it can be replaced without operational impact.

Security

edgeBOX 4.6 supports full port-based authentication based on IEEE 802.1x and can be deployed in a VLAN based wired and wireless infrastructure (based on IEEE 802.1Q).

edgeBOX 4.6 also introduces numerous security features that allow for a finer level of control of user access, as well as protection from viruses.

Provisioning and usability

The edgeBOX IP-PBX can now be automatically configured for phones from Aastra and Polycom; in fact, using the phone itself, configuration can be done instantaneously. The voice prompts can be customized, and FXO (analog) lines can be configured using parameters such as TX/RX gain, Echo cancel and Wait dial tone. The IP-PBX also supports the EasyLink external billing solution.

Being VLAN aware also means temporary/guest accounts can be set up very quickly on the system without setting up complex profiles.

The edgeBOX 4.6 system clock can be synchronized with a remote NTP server.

Hardware support

The edgeBOX IP PBX now supports additional hardware - E1/T1 and analog cards from Sangoma and Digium.

The edgeBOX replaces up to 8 specialized solutions with a single integrated device, providing SMB customers with a complete networking infrastructure that is simple to install and configure, easy to maintain and upgrade and can be managed remotely. Customers can leverage edgeBOX services ranging from VOIP, IP-PBX, VPNs, security, NAC and QoS as well as web server, e-mail server and data storage. It is available on a range of scalable platforms that support up to 300 users.

The edgeBOX is delivered to SMBs through Critical Links' global network of resellers, service providers and OEMs. Hundreds of edgeBOXes are deployed all over the world and are currently supporting thousands of users.