Chapter 1. Introduction

Table of Contents

1.1. The FB6000
1.1.1. Where do I start?
1.1.2. What can it do?
1.1.2.1. FB6202 Gigabit L2TP LNS with detailed monitoring of all lines
1.1.3. Ethernet port capabilities
1.1.4. Product variants in the FB6000 series
1.2. About this Manual
1.2.1. Version
1.2.2. Intended audience
1.2.3. Technical details
1.2.4. Document style
1.2.5. Document conventions
1.2.6. Comments and feedback
1.3. Additional Resources
1.3.1. Technical Support
1.3.2. IRC Channel
1.3.3. Application Notes
1.3.4. Training Courses

1.1. The FB6000

1.1.1. Where do I start?

The FB6000 is shipped in a factory reset state. This means it has a default configuration that allows the unit to be attached directly to a computer, or into an existing network, and is accessible via a web browser on a known IP address for further configuration.

Besides allowing initial web access to the unit, the factory reset configuration provides a starting point for you to develop a bespoke configuration that meets your requirements.

A printed copy of the QuickStart Guide is included with your FB6000 and covers the basic setup required to gain access to the web based user interface. If you have already followed the steps in the QuickStart guide, and are able to access the FB6000 via a web browser, you can begin to work with the factory reset configuration by referring to Chapter 3.

Initial set up is also covered in this manual, so if you have not already followed the QuickStart Guide, please start at Chapter 2.

Tip

The FB6000's configuration can be restored to the state it was in when shipped from the factory. The procedure requires physical access to the FB6000, and can be applied if you have made configuration changes that have resulted in loss of access to the web user interface, or any other situation where it is appropriate to start from scratch - for example, commissioning an existing unit for a different role, or where you've forgotten an administrative user password. It is also possible to temporarily reset the FB6000 to allow you to recover and edit a broken configuration (though you still need to know the password you had). You can also go back one step in the config.

The remainder of this chapter provides an overview of the FB6000's capabilities, and covers your product support options.

Tip

The latest version of the QuickStart guide for the FB6000 can be obtained from the FireBrick website at : https://www.firebrick.co.uk/support/manuals/

1.1.2. What can it do?

The FB6000 series of products is a family of high speed ISP/telco grade routers and firewalls providing a range of specific functions.

Key features of the FB6000 family:

  • 1U 19" rack mount
  • Very low power consumption (typical 20W) - all important with today's power charges in data centres
  • Two small fans are the only moving parts for high reliability
  • Dual 120/230V AC power feed
  • IPv6 built in from the start
  • Gigabit performance

The FB600 series are provided in a number of variants. This manual is for the FB6202. This variant includes:

  • Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol (L2TP) to terminate PPP connections (e.g. broadband lines)
  • Border Gateway Protocol, to allow routes to be announced and accepted from peering BGP routers.

1.1.2.1. FB6202 Gigabit L2TP LNS with detailed monitoring of all lines

The FB6202 provides the key component for an Internet Servuice Provider (ISP) to terminate data connections from broadband or dial-up or similar service carriers that use L2TP. RADIUS is used to authenticate and account for data, and BGP is used to announce connected routes.

The FB6202 has unique features that provide invaluable levels of monitoring of connected circuits. There is also support for per-packet line bonding, IPv6 (including DHCPv6 and RA over PPP), and L2TP relay.

With the FB6202 you can handle thousands of broadband connections from a variety of carriers up to a gigabit throughput. You can pool multiple FB6102's to provide to handle much higher capacity even where links to carriers need aggregate traffic shaping.

1.1.3. Ethernet port capabilities

The FB6000 has two copper (RJ45) Ethernet network ports that operate at 1Gb/s. The ports implement auto-negotiation by default, but operation can be fine-tuned to suit specific circumstances. The function of these ports is very flexible, and defined by the device's configuration. The ports implement one or more interfaces.

Multiple interfaces can be implemented on a single physical port via support for IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, ideal for using the FB6000 with VLAN-capable network switches. In this case, a single physical connection can be made between a VLAN-capable switch and the FB6000, and with the switch configured appropriately, this physical connection will carry traffic to/from multiple VLANs, and the FB6000 can do Layer 3 processing (routing/firewalling etc.) between nodes on two or more VLANs.

The two ports on the FB6000 can be combined as a single 2Gb/2 LACP bundle, with a choice of hashing logic for traffic distribution.

1.1.4. Product variants in the FB6000 series

  • FB6102 High capacity ping monitoring box
  • FB6202 Gigabit L2TP LNS with detailed monitoring of all lines
  • FB6302 Gigabit BGP router
  • FB6402 Gigabit stateful firewall
  • FB6602 Mobile GTPv1 GGSN/L2TP gateway