NETGEAR Expands ProSafe™ Business-Class Product Line With Launch Of High-End Firewall VPN Security Routers For Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses

NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall Routers FVX538 and FVS338 Affordably Deliver Comprehensive Enterprise-Class Network Security Solutions To Support Main Offices, Remote Sites and Branch Offices Up to 250 Users

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – December 20, 2004 – NETGEAR®, Inc., (Nasdaq: NTGR) a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, today announced the expansion of its ProSafe™ security product line with the addition of the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) and ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 (FVS338), enterprise-class VPN firewall security routers designed to support up to 250 users in the main offices, remote sites and branch offices of growing small- to medium-sized businesses. The feature-rich network security solutions affordably combine VPN, SPI firewall connectivity, quality of service (QoS), and SNMP for centralized management, and both routers incorporate NETGEAR’s popular VPN Wizard for ease of use and setup. The FVX538 will support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) VPN functionality with a future optional firmware upgrade, the first affordable platform specifically designed for the SMB market to offer this functionality.

Interoperable with other NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall products, as well as with any standards-based network and other major IPSec VPN devices, the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) and ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 (FVS338) are VPN Firewall Router combination devices designed for larger offices with remote sites, or offices with up to 250 users. Incorporating 8-port 10/100 Mbps switches, the SNMP-manageable firewalls feature Network Address Translation (NAT) routing and provide high-speed throughputs of 90+ Mbps WAN-to-LAN and up to 100 Mbps 3DES VPN throughput.

Both the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538), which is capable of supporting up to 200 simultaneous VPN end-point tunnels, and the ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 (FVS338), which supports up to 50 VPN end-point tunnels, provide rock solid network protection through a security feature set that includes a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall, 3DES and AES IPSec encryption capability and secure Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) support. Both firewalls will receive future upgrades that will include optional anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spyware policy enforcement and a robust intrusion detection system (IDS), enabling them to affordably deliver a complete security solution that protects the network with a best-in-class security feature set.

“The addition of these second generation enterprise-class ProSafe VPN Firewalls to our expanding family of feature-rich, affordable network security products demonstrates our dedication to providing value-packed, high-end security solutions for the small- and medium-sized business segment,” explained Lianne Caetano, NETGEAR Product Line Manager. “Easy-to-use, ultra-secure and value priced, these high-performance routers not only serve as ideal standalone network security solutions for growing small- and medium-sized businesses, but also serve equally well in the enterprise infrastructure providing secure, high-speed connections for main offices, remote locations and branch offices. NETGEAR’s worldwide market share leadership in secure enterprise routers and secure wired broadband gateways proves that organizations worldwide are looking to NETGEAR for robust, value-packed, highly secure security solutions.”

Incorporating NETGEAR’s popular VPN Wizard for easy setup and use, the NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewalls FVX538 and FVS338 provide best-in-class performance, affordability and feature sets with support for digital certificates and DES, 3DES and AES encryption. The ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) comes bundled with a 5-user ProSafe VPN Client software license and the ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 (FVS338) comes with a single user license. Additional licenses may be purchased separately. The ProSafe VPN Firewalls are compatible with the NETGEAR ProSafe Network Management Software (NMS100) as well as with other manufacturers’ SNMP based management software packages.

In addition to compatibility with all NETGEAR VPN security products and client software, the VPNC-certifiable ProSafe VPN Firewall Routers are also fully compatible with other major IPSec VPN devices or client software including Safenet and Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP clients, as well as Cisco IOS, Juniper/Netscreen, Checkpoint, and others via VNPC.

NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538)

The ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) is a 1U rack-mountable combination VPN/Firewall security appliance that provides support for up to 200 simultaneous Security Associations (VPN tunnels). The ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) can serve as a DHCP Server, supports Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Quality of Service (QoS) traffic prioritization, multi-NAT functionality and has a powerful SPI firewall. Featuring eight auto-sensing 10/100 LAN ports, one Gigabit LAN port and two 10/100 WAN ports, the ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) enables multiple computers to share two Internet connections for load balancing and auto fail-over, as well as ISP link aggregation. The ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) also features a console port for secure local management and for command line interface (CLI) support and makes remote management and configuration a snap with the timesaving VPN Wizard and SmartWizard™. A future firmware upgrade will enable Web browser-based SSL VPN capabilities for mobile workers, for access to corporate resources without the need for VPN client software, providing a proven, secure, scalable and low-cost remote access alternative to traditional IPSec VPN connections.

The NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 (FVX538) is backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, and will be available via leading direct marketers, e-commerce sites, and value-added resellers at a list price of $557.

NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 (FVS338)

The ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 with 50 IPSec VPN tunnels has built-in 8 Port switch with dial back-up and supports SNMP. It comes complete with security features like 256-bit AES Encryption, DoS protection, and stateful packet inspection (SPI).

The NETGEAR ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 (FVS338) is backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 technical support, and will be available via leading direct marketers, e-commerce sites, and value-added resellers at a list price of $278.

About NETGEAR, Inc.

NETGEAR (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking products that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The Company's suite of over 100 products enables users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408) 907-8000.

©2004 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR®, the NETGEAR Logo, SmartWizard and ProSafe are trademarks or registered trademarks of Netgear, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements concerning the expected performance characteristics, specifications, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses, user feedback and market position of NETGEAR’s ProSafe family of products and technology are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the following: the actual price, performance and ease of use of NETGEAR’s ProSafe family of products may not met the price, performance and ease of use requirements of customers, product performance may be adversely affected by real world operating conditions, the ability of NETGEAR to market and sell its products and technology, the impact and pricing of competing products and the introduction of alternative technological solutions. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled “Risk Factors Affecting Future Results”, pages 15 through 22, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 3, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2004. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For more information:

Doug Hagan
NETGEAR Inc.
(408) 907-8053
doug.hagan@netgear.com

Ken Hagihara
Integrity Public Relations
(949) 768-4423
ken@integritypr.net