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Ascend Communications, maker of the Pipeline 85, was recently acquired by Lucent Technologies. The fully functional router can manage subnets, use RIP 2 and route not only IP packets, but also IPX and AppleTalk. It accepts calls, and supports PPP, MPP and Ascend's proprietary MP+ protocol. The device is reasonably priced, and it provides high security for a branch office that is both a call-in point for telecommuters and a node on the corporate network.
But the Pipeline 85 will be tricky to install in a small branch-office setting. We spent a few hours poring over manuals and enlisting the help of a network...