Skycasters Satellite Internet Network Server

SNS (Satellite Network Server)

The SNS makes VSAT DW4000 broadband satellite Internet access over the VSAT satellite Internet network a truly business grade satellite Internet service. The SNS provides the gateway, router, firewall, SMTP, SNMP, system diagnostics and remote administration functionality critical to a high-reliability multi-user deployment of VSAT satellite Internet service. It provides a standard 10/100 ethernet interface that will support any type of network or computers including PC, MAC, UNIX, LINUX, PowerPC or Mainframe.

The Skycasters SNS (Satellite Network Server) is VSAT CERTIFIED. The SNS is a proprietary Intel-based hardware device designed and engineered specifically to support the Skycasters and Hughes Network Systems VSAT® broadband satellite Internet access platform.

The Skycasters SNS is manufactured exclusively for Skycasters, and is not available from any other vendor. Over the satellite Internet connection, Skycasters engineers or the customer's off-site administrator can securely take control of the SNS and use it to change configurations, update software version, monitor firewall security, add users, etc. The SNS provides firewall security with packet filters, NAT and Advanced NAT routing, SNMP network management, HTTP caching, DNS, SMTP server and enhanced multi-user support.

Click here for more SNS Router/Firewall/Remote Administration Information.

The SNS allows a powerful and unprecedented capability to provide remote satellite Internet users with “hands-on” support. Our engineers can securely take control of the unit via the satellite Internet connection to remotely perform any necessary adjustments or troubleshooting, avoiding the typical customer involvement associated with a technical support call.

If the satellite Internet connection itself is the problem, our engineers can dial in to the SNS via a customer provided temporary telephone connection (such as a borrowed fax line) and quickly take control of the SNS to resolve any issues.

The SNS helps make the Skycasters broadband satellite Internet service installation non-invasive to the customers LAN. Using a Skycasters SNS, there are no minimum computer processor or operating system requirements for the customers PC's. No satellite Internet system-related software needs to be loaded onto the customers computers.

The Skycasters SNS must be connected to a customer provided surge suppressor or UPS. Skycasters recommends a customer provided UPS with a rating of 300VA. The SNS is designed to connect directly to a hub or switch, but can be connected directly to a computer with a cross-over cable.

Unlike other deployments of the VSAT satellite Internet access system, the 4000-SNS system does not require a telephone line to be present at the time of installation. Also unlike satellite Internet solutions provided by Hughes or other VSAT vendors, if the VSAT setup files need to be re-initiated in the future as part of resolving a technical support issue, only the Skycasters SNS has the ability to restore the configuration without a dialup call or satellite Internet connection to the Hughes Network Systems operations center web-setup server. This makes the Skycasters 4000-SNS an excellent choice for broadband satellite Internet equipment installation and operation in areas where there is no telephone service.