Network appliances do provide users with a certain level of reliability, experts say. In other words, it crashes as often as a washer or dryer malfunctions. Xaing says the benefits of using network appliances include ease of installation, very low maintenance and very low total cost in terms of both initial purchase and overall cost of ownership. Though still in the beginning stages of market acceptance, network appliance product lines are being developed by companies such as Oracle Corp., IBM and Intel, which are looking to capitalize on their potential. Linkins is a freelance writer in Austin, Texas.
Web server Serves up Web pages many companies use Web servers solely for that reason.
When a request is made by a user's computer for a specific Web page, the server fetches that page by name and sends it to the user's browser. Application gateway Applies security mechanisms to specific applications, such as file transfer protocol and Telnet servers. Companies with very specific security needs may find this appliance useful but slow. It also manages the messages between users on a LAN and outside users. Firewall Prevents unauthorized access to or from a private network.