It's commonly believed that someone upgrading their network always needs to invest in the best and newest technologies. Realistically, this isn't always the case.  The best hardware investments are those which match the needs of a business, specifically,

Sometimes, all you need is a reliable workhorse that will do a job well, without needing all the latest-generation bells and whistles.

That's why the NetVanta 3120 continues to be one of our favorite products, one we continue to place in networks today. It combines an excellent set of features into a highly affordable package. The ADTRAN 3120 router excels at multi-functionality and re-purposability, making it a great option for smaller businesses that need an easy route to network expansions.

The Many Uses Of An ADTRAN NetVanta 3120

The best feature of the NetVanta 3120 is its all-in-one nature. While primarily designed as a WAN access router for DSL/Cable connections, it incorporates a four-port 10/100BaseT switch as well. There's also an on-board firewall, Wireless Access Point controller, and IPSec VPN tunneling. It further includes on-board QoS prioritization with Voice Quality Monitoring as well as NAT-based Session Initiation Protocol support, allowing it to easily handle VoIP traffic.

Its standalone design makes it perfect for smaller operations that may need to redeploy it directly within an office. It's small, compact, and uses a low-noise design that's fine for departmental-level use.

In some ways, it's more a question of what can't you use a 3120 to do!

Among other roles, it could:

Serve to expand your WAN to a new location, while carrying over the same security policies as the rest of your network.

Provide backup or even primary access to a single small department, thanks to the on-board switch allowing direct access.

Serve as the hub interfacing your VoIP systems with the rest of the network, with high-powered software optimizations.

Go into your border security systems as another layer of firewall protection, with its stateful-inspection anti-DDOS protections.

Act as the gateway for your telecommuting employees, supporting up to 10 simultaneous VPN tunnels at once.

Enable emergency backup access via the optional 33.6K dialup modem for outside configuration.

Or virtually any combination of the above.

ADTRAN's powerful AOS software ties it together with an interface that's among the easiest-to-use in the industry. The NetVanta 3120 is simple to configure or reconfigure as often as needed, while the AOS software ensures it's consistently adhering to all of your existing security standards.

This flexibility makes it a perfect option for operations expecting network growth, but can't exactly predict their needs in the future. The ADTRAN 3120 can migrate around your offices, serving in different roles as your needs change, while providing highly reliable service throughout.

Plus, ADTRAN offers some of the most robust support in the business, with a full five-year guarantee of proper operation. That means a NetVanta 3120 is guaranteed to serve a long life through multiple roles.

Don't Overpay For Hardware You Don't Need

At Hummingbird Networks, we help you put together the network you need, based on the budget you have. Older but high-quality routers like the NetVanta 3120 are still mainstays in plenty of offices, and utilizing them can significantly lower the cost of your network expansions.

Want to learn more? We can put together a no-cost proposal for upgrades that can work with virtually any budget, along with robust leasing and trade-in options. Contact us today for a free consultation!