The gateProtect GPX 800 provides standard UTM functionality, including firewall, IPS, web content filtering, gateway anti-virus and anti-spam, and VPN. However, this product is designed to not only stand by itself, but integrate with others at various locations -- even across the globe -- and all can be managed centrally using one management interface.
This product was not at all straightforward from the moment we took it out of the box. The appliance itself has about eight different network interface cards (NICs) and none are labeled, so before we could do anything, we had to figure out which NICs to use. After we got the appliance plugged into the network, we ran the administration client setup application and found that the basic setup, even in beginner mode, does not really get much of the initial configuration complete. After we ran the wizard, we were taken into the actual management application, which is not intuitive at all to use.
The management application claims to be an ergonomic GUI, but we found nothing ergonomic about it. The initial view of the client shows something that looks like a network layout, but it is overwhelming and confusing as to what to do next. Many of the menus are of little help and we found ourselves going in circles trying to understand how to configure and assign policies.
This product comes with a PDF user manual, which covers the entire product from installation to setup and configuration. This guide is well-organized and has many screen shots and configuration examples.
The Germany-based company (with U.S. offices in Severna Park, Md.) offers varying levels of support, which provide many types of phone, email and web assistance. There is a web-based customer support portal available, as well as a FAQ section, via a click-through on the German-language home page.
At a price just shy of $5,000, we rate this product slightly below the average value for money. While gateProtect GPX 800 does offer a decent set of features, there is a major learning curve with using the product itself.
This product was not at all straightforward from the moment we took it out of the box. The appliance itself has about eight different network interface cards (NICs) and none are labeled, so before we could do anything, we had to figure out which NICs to use. After we got the appliance plugged into the network, we ran the administration client setup application and found that the basic setup, even in beginner mode, does not really get much of the initial configuration complete. After we ran the wizard, we were taken into the actual management application, which is not intuitive at all to use.
The management application claims to be an ergonomic GUI, but we found nothing ergonomic about it. The initial view of the client shows something that looks like a network layout, but it is overwhelming and confusing as to what to do next. Many of the menus are of little help and we found ourselves going in circles trying to understand how to configure and assign policies.
This product comes with a PDF user manual, which covers the entire product from installation to setup and configuration. This guide is well-organized and has many screen shots and configuration examples.
The Germany-based company (with U.S. offices in Severna Park, Md.) offers varying levels of support, which provide many types of phone, email and web assistance. There is a web-based customer support portal available, as well as a FAQ section, via a click-through on the German-language home page.
At a price just shy of $5,000, we rate this product slightly below the average value for money. While gateProtect GPX 800 does offer a decent set of features, there is a major learning curve with using the product itself.
