WinGate Editor's Review

WinGate is an Internet sharing solution for any type of network. This means that the computer running should have two network cards, one connected to the Internet, and the other to your LAN. If you have only one network card you can still use every feature except the proxy server. The application's price ranges from $70 to $2200 depending on the number of users it supports and on the set of features which are offered. WinGate comes in three flavors. The standard version offers the fewest features. The professional edition is suited for medium businesses, while the enterprise version is the most complex.

The program acts as a DHCP server for you local network. You can set up each computer in your LAN automatically if you choose to use this server. An IP address will be automatically provided from the range you specify. WinGate can also be used for providing DNS, POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP services. I think one of the most important features is its proxy server. The proxy for each protocol can be started or stopped independently. Supported protocols include WWW (web pages), FTP (file transfer protocol), POP3, SOCKS, RTSP (streaming media), and others. The program features a built in email server. It can also provide Antivirus protection by using a plugin from Kaspersky.

Another cool thing about WinGate is its firewall. This firewall protects your local network against intruders and provides content filtering. You don't need to worry anymore about your employees visiting sites they aren't supposed to.

Pluses: VPN connections can be managed by using the program. Besides connecting to other VPNs, you can create your own VPN.

Drawbacks / flaws: Hardware routers cost less although they provide many of the features of WinGate.

In conclusion: WinGate is widely used as a proxy server. It simplifies the tasks of a network administrator.

version reviewed: 6.1.4