ZyXEL ZyWALL ZWUSG20 Internet Security Firewall with 4 Gigabit LAN / DMZ Ports, 2 IPSec VPN, SSL VPN , and 3G WAN Support ZyXEL ZyWALL ZWUSG20 Internet Security Firewall with 4 Gigabit LAN / DMZ Ports, 2 IPSec VPN, SSL VPN , and 3G WAN Support

Pros: Its inexpensive for what it is.

Cons: I had my cousin purchase this for his small business specifically for the SSL VPN functionality. i failed to read the fine print evidently it only support 1 concurrent SSL VPN connection? what exactly is the point of that? for our use it makes it slightly better than any cheap firewall on the market.

The admin console is almost completely useless; its worse than a radware load balancer gui as a comparison and doesn't really follow any convention that's recognizable from other networking devices i have had experience with. Poorly layed out and difficult to navigate.

Pros: Things i like about this little unit.
1. Gigabit ports. Made network fast, and worked great streaming blu rays from my NAS.
2. SSL VPN- I tied it in with my Domain name, and now i can hit my server from anywhere. If i need to check anything at home i'm only a web page away.
3. The interface is laid out nicely.
4. Snappy and quick. No lag when setting the device up through the GUI.

Cons: 1. The zyxel 50 has a metal housing, the 20 has a plastic one, and its not rack mountable, the 50 is. The 50 also has another WAN port, and a few more SSL lics.
2. Initial setup, and finding your way around the interface can be a daunting task, but once you spend some time with it, it becomes natural.

Other Thoughts: Get it, for the money its worth it if your looking for a Firewall/VPN appliance. I was going to get the Cisco 5505, but it doesnt have gigabit ports.

Pros: Amazingly configurable. Some learning curve learning how to configure, but once you get the paradigm, it saves you a lot of effort in the future. The only fw/router I've owned that supports IPV6 and has usable VPN options that actually work for me. I've actually got my Android phone connecting to this thing over IPSEC/L2TP using the latest firmware. I'm impressed. Over 6 months of use and not even the first glitch.

Cons: Case looks a little cheap and flimsy. But not bad at this price point.

Other Thoughts: This is a terrific home router. The upgraded firmware provides some highly sought after features that you'll find on much more expensive routers. I got this one on sale, but even at full price, I'm would be very pleased with this device.

Pros: Features are robust. (Note: Please see my other review by : "defilm".

Cons: I have 3 of these firewalls. One arrived DOA (Bad power connecter on the motherboard), and Newegg replaced it. But it was a major inconvenience. It was replacing a Sonicwall TZ-170, a device I trust far more because it is a sonicwall and not a Zyxel. I have one in my media center to protect my media login's etc. I have one in a small home office environment. Now I purchased it in early September, and the second was DOA as well.

So I have 2 units purchased. 9/16/12, that was DOA. Another unit 9/25/12 I just booted and the login screen does come up, but upon logging in the default account, clearly there is a firmware issue. Because it is over 90 days I have to send it off to ZyXEL and I know that is going to take a few weeks. So I just purchased another while I send a Brand NEW UNIT out to what I understand is terrible support and prey for the best. In the mean-time I dropped another $150 on a unit so I can have it in a week from Newegg.

The irony is that when the REFURB unit is sent back to me to replace my second DOA Brand new USG20, I am really concerned that this interim unit I just ordered is going to be DOA, or have a motherboard, or firmware problem.

My professional assessment having been in IT Design for nearly 30 years is that there is little to no Q/A in their process. If they are ISO 900x compliant I would be shocked!
As far as security, I have not had a test done, but I suspect I should do so. I have access to a Tiger Team. I believe I will have them test the unit, and publish the results. Who knows if there are holes. I am certain there are as we find them all the time in commercial firewalls that are $50K and up. This is only $150.

Other Thoughts: I figure I will keep the RMA unit, once it is returned, as a "cold backup". However, if the unit I just ordered arrives and is DOA, which I will not make the mistake of letting it sit for over 90 days, than I will indeed lose all confidence in their product and will seek a refund on all three units. I realize that may be an uphill battle, but I have taken companies to court before. Often once the papers are filed, before it goes to trial, my attorney gets a call, and I get my refund and filing fees back. If not.. it goes to court. In the interim I think I need to take a step up in quality. I made a mistake buying ZyXEL in my opinion.

Pros: Excellent replacement for aging Zywall 2+
Faster throughput - more powerful features
Excellent Tech Support (real people)!
Fan is very silent - runs cool and very quiet.

Cons: Learning Curve for new features may be daunting for many. Web UI can be quirky depending upon which browser is used.

Other Thoughts: Yes, there is a learning curve if you're coming from the older Zywall series (2, 2+, 5, 10, etc.) but well worth it once you catch on to the Object based system. IMHO, it can't be beat for this price. Usually needs a FW update immediately after purchasing (this is normal).

Pros: Good specs. Looks good.

Cons: 1. Noisy (irritating pitch) fan if used in small office/area.
2. Content Filtering (URL, etc) capable. NOT included.
3. Would rather configure SonicWall, Netgear or Cisco VPN router than this one. Too much drilling down into menus/options. Top level should have 10 to 20 starting points not 4. Takes way too long to set up. Slow menu changes.
4. Manufacturers web site not of much value.

Other Thoughts: Eliminate the stupid "Smart Fan" and put a heat sink in it like most manufacturers do for this class firewall/router.

With all the vents in the plastic case why the fan?

Pros: FAST. My ISP upgraded my cable modem, the new one can do > 50Mb/s. My previous (new!) gigabit router/firewall can only do 20. NewEgg was the only site that made finding a faster router easy. With my new USG20, my download speed is 70Mb/s.

Cons: Some of the setup is a little vague, but I had it working fairly quickly.

Other Thoughts: Download the user guide before you start setup in case you have any questions.

Pros: Nice Features for a low cost firewall. The features provided within this firewall are normally found on firewalls that cost a few hundred dollars more. (FOr example, it does support OSPF and BGP, along with some other advanced features. There is support for QOS, and for SIP signaling that can be an issue for inbound SIP connections for users that use an ITSP provider (Vonage, and other similar VOIP providers)

Cons: None. Limited by your understanding of the technology within the firewall. Nothing that some reading/education can't fix.

Other Thoughts: Apparently there is no way to UPDATE a prior review on NewEgg as you can on Another major supplier that starts with A and ends with ZON, and most others. The Bad Motherboard connector was a one off. I have since purchased a second, and it is working fine. Newegg is currently preparing to ship a replacement for the bad one I returned via RMA.

Pros: Low power consumption marketed firewall.

Cons: Get the more expensive one ZWUSG50 if you're looking for something dedicated with commercial support, since it has more subscription options like ips. The price is nice for the ZWUSG20 with the newegg promotion but it doesn't have as many features.

Pros: The only thing that will limit what you are able to do with device is your own knowledge. It has an endless feature set at an extremely reasonable price. Keep your eyes open for sales at 20% off. The web interface is decent although a little confusing until you get used to it. The device uses an object oriented format that makes all kinds of sense but can be a little difficult to wrap your head around initially. The device can also be programmed using a CLI similar to Cisco IOS that can be accessed over telnet and ssh; many of the basic commands are the same as Cisco but when you get into proprietary features it's unique. The control you have over the flow of network traffic is impressive with this device and it easily competes with devices many times its price.

Cons: At $150, none really.