The PLANET BM-500 Bandwidth Management Gateway is designed for SOHO networks, offering comprehensive bandwidth management, network security, and monitoring capabilities. It features built-in 4-port 10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN ports and a NAT function, eliminating the need for a separate broadband router for users with a single public IP address. The device also supports virtual server, Multi-DMZ, and dynamic DNS functions, which are beneficial for sharing local resources with Internet users.
Function Description:
The BM-500's primary function is bandwidth management, allowing packets to be classified based on IP address, IP subnet, and TCP/UDP port numbers. It supports over 40 common protocols, including H.323, Oracle, HTTP, and FTP, simplifying policy definition. Administrators can set policies to ensure committed and maximum bandwidth levels for inbound and outbound traffic for different classes, with three priority levels to ensure high-priority packets receive maximum available bandwidth. Policies can also be scheduled in 30-minute increments for activation or inactivation.
The gateway supports both NAT and transparent modes, providing flexibility in network integration without requiring existing network structure reconfigurations. In NAT mode, LAN users share a single public IP address from the WAN port for Internet connection. In transparent mode, the BM-500 acts as a proxy, forwarding LAN packets to WAN and vice versa, with LAN and WAN IP addresses residing in the same subnet.
For security, the BM-500 offers policy-based firewall protection and various hacker protections. It includes a comprehensive alarm and log function to enhance local network security.
Important Technical Specifications:
- Product Model: BM-500
- Hardware Connections:
- WAN: 1 x 10/100Base-TX
- LAN: 4 x 10/100Base-TX, Auto-MDI/MDI-X
- Button: Reset button for hardware reset / factory default
- System LED Indicators: PWR, STATUS, LNK/ACT, 100
- Power: 5V DC, 2.4A
- Operating Environment:
- Temperature: 0~50°C
- Relative Humidity: 5%~90%
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 220 x 149 x 37 mm
- Regulatory Compliance: FCC, CE Mark
- Maximum Bandwidth:
- Transparent Mode: 10Mbps
- NAT Mode: 8Mbps
- NAT + logging + statistics: 3Mbps
- Maximum Concurrent Sessions: 5000
- Management: Web-based UI (English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese)
- Operation Modes: Transparent, NAT
- WAN Connection Type (NAT Mode): PPPoE, DHCP, Fixed IP
- Traffic Classification: IP, IP subnet, TCP/UDP port
- Bandwidth Allocation: Policy rules with Inbound/Outbound traffic management, guaranteed and maximum bandwidth, scheduled in 30-minute units, 3 priorities.
- Log Functions: Traffic Log, Event Log, Connection Log, Log backup by mail or syslog server.
- Statistics: WAN port statistics and policy statistics with graph display.
- Firewall Security: Policy-based access control, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), scheduled in 30-minute units.
- Hacker Alert: Detects SYN Attack, ICMP Flood, UDP Flood, Ping of Death Attack, Tear Drop Attack, IP Spoofing Attack, IP Route Option Filter, Port Scan Attack, Land Attack.
- Alarm Functions: Traffic alarm for user-defined traffic level, event alarm for hacker attack. Alarm messages can be sent to administrator by e-mail.
- Other Functions: Firmware upgradeable through Web, NTP support, Configuration Backup and Restore through Web, Dynamic DNS support, Multiple NAT and multiple DMZ (mapped IP) support, Multiple server load balancing.
Usage Features:
- Easy Configuration: The device is managed via a web-based user interface, accessible through a standard web browser. Default IP address is 192.168.1.1, with a default username "admin" and password "admin."
- Flexible Operation Modes: Supports both Transparent and NAT modes, allowing seamless integration into various network setups without extensive reconfigurations.
- Granular Bandwidth Control: Allows administrators to classify traffic based on IP addresses, subnets, and TCP/UDP port ranges. Policies can define guaranteed and maximum bandwidths with three priority levels, ensuring critical applications receive adequate resources.
- Scheduled Policies: Bandwidth policies can be scheduled daily and weekly in 30-minute increments, providing flexibility for managing network usage during different times.
- Multi-Server Load Balancing: Enhances network performance and reliability by distributing traffic across multiple servers.
- Dynamic DNS and DHCP Server: Includes Dynamic DNS support for aliasing dynamic IP addresses to static hostnames and a DHCP server for automatic IP address assignment on the LAN.
- Content Filtering: Supports content filtering based on scheduled times, allowing control over network access to specific websites or content.
- Virtual Server and IP Mapping (Multi-DMZ Host): Enables sharing of local resources with Internet users through virtual servers and multiple DMZ hosts.
- Multi-Language Web UI: The web interface supports multiple languages (English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese), making it user-friendly for a broader audience.
- User Authentication: Supports user authentication based on usernames and passwords, providing an additional layer of access control.
Maintenance Features:
- Configuration Backup and Restore: Administrators can back up the device's configuration to a local computer and restore it when needed, simplifying device management and recovery.
- Factory Default Reset: A physical reset button allows users to restore the device to its factory default settings, useful for troubleshooting or reconfiguring the device from scratch.
- Firmware Upgrades: The firmware can be upgraded via the web interface, allowing administrators to keep the device updated with the latest features, performance optimizations, and security fixes.
- Comprehensive Logging: Provides detailed Traffic Logs, Event Logs, and Connection Logs. Log data can be backed up via email or a syslog server for auditing and analysis.
- Alarm Notifications: The Hacker Alert and Traffic Alarm features can send email notifications to administrators when abnormal conditions (e.g., hacker attacks, user-defined traffic levels exceeded) occur, enabling proactive security management.
- MRTG-like Traffic Statistics: Offers MRTG-like traffic statistics with graphical displays for WAN port and policy statistics, making it easy to trace and analyze network usage and performance.
- Administrator Management: Allows the main administrator to add, remove, and modify sub-administrator accounts, controlling access privileges (read/write or read-only) to the device's settings.