SMB Network Troubleshooter Announced for AccessEnforcer UTM Firewall

New feature saves time by testing 70+ services and settings with a single click

AccessEnforcer Network Troubleshooter Sample Test Results
AccessEnforcer Network Troubleshooter Sample Test Results

Charlotte, NC -- Calyptix Security, a leading provider of network security tools for small business, today announced a new feature for its flagship product, AccessEnforcer. The Network Troubleshooter is expected to help administrators save time and effort when diagnosing and solving problems on small business networks.

The Network Troubleshooter comes as part of the latest firmware release for the AccessEnforcer UTM Firewall (version 3.1.18). With the click of a single button, the troubleshooter runs more than 70 network tests. Each checks the status of a network service and/or a configuration setting on the device.

A sample of the items tested by the Network Troubleshooter:

  • Web filtering
  • Quality of service (QoS)
  • Email filtering
  • Network interface controllers (NICs)
  • External hostname resolution
  • DHCP
  • Virtual private network (VPN)
  • Intrusion detection and prevention (IDS/IPS)
  • DNS resolution
  • Much more

“The Network Troubleshooter is a huge time-saver for network admins who need to diagnose and solve problems fast. Our promise is to make small business network security easier, and today’s announcement helps us achieve that goal. Network management does not get much easier than a single click,” said Ben Yarbrough, CEO, Calyptix Security.

Troubleshooter shows detailed test results

The Network Troubleshooter takes between 20 and 40 seconds to test 70+ services and configuration settings. When complete, it lists detailed results of each test. For example, the results of a successful test on the HTTP filter would include the following:

AccessEnforcer-UTM-Firewall-Models-StackedHTTP Filter
This test ensures that the Web filter is functioning correctly for HTTP sites.
Test result: Pass
Feature status: Enabled

A button labeled “Show Detailed Results” is at the bottom of each description. Clicking it reveals raw information from the Troubleshooter’s test. This can include the IP address tested, network configuration parameters, timestamps of settings changes, external resolution information, and other relevant data.

A gear icon is also shown next to each test result. Clicking it brings the administrator to the relevant AccessEnforcer configuration page. For example, the icon next to the test results for the HTTP Filter opens the web-filter configuration page in the AccessEnforcer firewall interface.

“The Troubleshooter tests more than 70 services and settings and shows you their status. If something is wrong, then you get more information and a link to solve the problem. It’s an amazing tool for any busy MSP or VAR technician because it helps them spend less time managing and securing small business networks,” said Yarbrough.

Any services or settings that do not pass the Troubleshooter’s test are listed as “failed” and include an associated error message. The message explains why the test failed and possible ways to resolve the issue.

Network Troubleshooter - When to use it

Calyptix recommends using the Troubleshooter any time there is a presumed problem with the network or the settings of an AccessEnforcer UTM. Three examples of when to use the troubleshooter are as follows:

  1. Cannot connect to the internet – The Network Troubleshooter will automatically ping the internal and external device and DNS server to see if any of these services fail.
  1. Cannot reach a website – If the administrator can ping the internet but cannot reach a specific website, the Network Troubleshooter will test if the AccessEnforcer can resolve internally to domain websites or if the DNS servers are unreachable.
  1. Unsure of a feature’s status – If the administrator is not sure whether intrusion detection or intrusion prevention mode is enabled, or if the CalyptixVPN is running as expected, then one click of the Troubleshooter shows the status of all services inside AccessEnforcer. This includes the SMTP filter, web filter, IPsec Tunnels, and more

Other updates to AccessEnforcer UTM firewall

The Network Troubleshooter is included with standard service for AccessEnforcer (all network security features are included with standard service). The feature was added in AccessEnforcer firmware version 3.1.18.

AccessEnforcer UTM firewall 3.1.18 also included updates to LibreSSL, a component of CalyptixVPN and the HTTPS web interface. The change to LibreSSL version 2.2.4 improves reliability and enhances security and regulatory compliance with standards such as PCI DSS. Other improvements include upgrades to OpenSSH, CalyptixVPN, SNMP, and the primary spam filtering engine.

Also new in AccessEnforcer 3.1.18 is automatic backups for the SSL certificates used for the AccessEnforcer web interface. The certificates are now included in the configuration backup file of the device. They can be restored to a current or replacement AccessEnforcer UTM firewall. This makes it easier to upgrade or replace AccessEnforcer models without having to manually add the SSL certificates from the old unit.

“Not only does AccessEnforcer back up its configuration settings to the cloud, but the configuration files are also interchangeable across all of our devices. So you can copy the config from one device and use it to deploy a second one with the same settings. It makes deployment so much faster and easier,” said Yarbrough.

About Calyptix Security

Calyptix Security is dedicated to helping small and medium-size businesses secure their networks so they can raise profits, protect investments, and control technology. The company’s UTM firewall for network security and management, AccessEnforcer, makes it easy to protect SMB networks so companies can forget about network security and focus on winning. Developed, built, and serviced in the U.S., AccessEnforcer is a flexible UTM device that allows MSPs and VARs to provide security that fits their needs and business models.


Written by Calyptix

 - January 12, 2016

About Us

Calyptix Security helps small and medium offices secure their networks so they can raise profits, protect investments, and control technology. Our customers do not waste time with security products designed for large enterprises. Instead, we make it easy for SMBs to protect and manage networks of up to 350 users.
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