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Chapter 1: Introducing Optinet
Welcome to Optinet. Optinet is a smart gateway appliance from Black Box Network
Services that offers network administrators an in-depth view on network traffic and
resources. With Optinet, you can monitor and manage traffic generated by specific
applications within the network as well as traffic generated by specific users or computers.
Not only can you manage traffic from users and devices, you can also control which web
sites or categories can be visited. In addition to this, Optinet offers protection against
spyware and virus web applications so that your network is running optimally.
Optinet helps manage network traffic by reporting which types of traffic are being used on
the network. The device also provides tools to help control the traffic and identify
potentially dangerous users or applications. By monitoring all Internet traffic, Optinet will
report on how much bandwidth is being used for browsing the Web, downloading files via
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Peer-to-Peer (P2P) applications. This information is valuable
as you will begin to see how your network resources are being used. With this information,
you can then use Optinet to optimize traffic, identify high-priority traffic, and restrict
unwanted types of traffic or web sites. In essence, Optinet will allow you to receive the
most benefit from your network and users.
Optinet provides three essential facets for traffic reporting and control:
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Filter content—Optinet will monitor and report on web sites visited. Optinet will
allow you to block unauthorized web sites or web categories.
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Shape traffic—Optinet can prioritize applications or users within the network,
allowing you to limit or restrict bandwidth and specific types of traffic. For example,
P2P file sharing can consume large amounts of bandwidth. Optinet can restrict this
traffic allocating more bandwidth to higher priority traffic.
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Block spyware and web viruses—Optinet will also identify and block spyware or viral
web sites and applications that can potentially harm your network and consume
bandwidth.
