Cisco unveils new Linksys E-series routers; wireless N, advanced features
Cisco on Wednesday unveiled its new Linksys E-series line wireless routers, intended to please its tech enthusiast base with wireless-N connectivity and a bevy of advanced features.
In stark contrast to its new Valet lineup of consumer routers, the Linksys E-series is all business. Using the same Cisco connect software as those routers, the new Linksys models can auto-assign WPA security passkeys and SSIDs.
The software allows users to add multiple devices to the network, set parental controls for each device and manage a separate guest network.
But beneath that simplicity lies a power-user playground. Here's a rundown of a few features, accessible through the old default IP address (192.168.1.1):
- Transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps
- Four Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports
- Target audience: general wireless Internet usage and home office productivity
- MSRP: $79.99
- Transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps
- Four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) ports
- Selectable dual-band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)
- Target audience: Connecting computers, gaming consoles, Internet-enabled HDTVs and Blu-Ray players
- MSRP: $119.99
Linksys E2100L Advanced Wireless-N Router
- Uses the Linux operating system
- Four Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) ports
- Built-in UPnP AV Media Server for media content streaming
- USB port for file sharing
- MSRP: $119.99
- Transfer speeds up to 300 Mbps
- Simultaneous dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) Wireless-N
- Four Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) ports
- Built-in UPnP AV media server for media content streaming
- Target audience: Home entertainment connectivity
- (MSRP: $179.99)
Cisco also announced the Linksys AE1000 wireless-N USB adapter, which offers selectable dual-band connectivity and WPA/WPA2 security for an MSRP of $69.99.
All models are available now.