The Plug-and-Play Intranet

Cisco Micro Webserver 200

For ease of setup and use, it's hard to beat the $1595 Cisco Micro Webserver 200--we had it running in a mere 15 minutes. Like all the units we reviewed, the Micro Webserver can set its network IP address automatically if Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server software is running on your network. Even without DHCP, IP configuration is a breeze, thanks to a utility that does the job from any networked PC. Color-coded cables make it easy to match cables with ports on the back of the box. One gotcha: The user name and password required to initiate access are hidden in a far corner of the printed release notes. Otherwise, the paper documentation and fold-out Quick Start poster are outstanding.

Inside, the Micro Webserver 200 features a 133-MHz PowerPC 603e processor and a 2.1GB hard disk; it runs a proprietary operating system and Apache Web server software.

The 4MB of memory is the smallest amount in all the products reviewed here, but the unit is rated to handle at least 50 connections per second, which is enough to serve a couple of hundred users. A built-in SCSI port lets you add SCSI hard disks and CD-ROM drives, and you can stack up to five Micro Webservers together.

Java-based setup and administrative utilities use wizards to quickly step you through the process, including basic security for user access and file rights.

While the Micro Webserver lets you easily set up accounts and basic home pages for both individual users and the overall site, it doesn't include any advanced Web page creation tools. But you can easily send HTML content created in another application from a network PC to the Micro Webserver.

SUMMARY

Micro Webserver 200 PRO: Easy setup; powerful enough to handle a large intranet. CON: Limited Web site creation tools, only 4MB of memory. $1595 list Cisco Systems 800/553-6387, 408/526-4000 www.cisco.com