DSL VPN Routers

I have managed many different VPN solutions. I have used Hardware
based and Software based. Both can do a good job, but to pick one in
paticular I would need to know more about what you want and how
secure your data should be. There are different transports for VPN.
You have PPTP and L2TP IPSEC. PPTP is the easiest and most common,
but also less secure and with fewer options for administration. My
suggestion is do your homework. Read all you can and look in other
forums. I inherited my first vpn. It connected over 150 remote site
and 25 traveling managers. What a pain. I read all I could and
redesigned using a Cisco VPN Concentrator. $3000, tons of options
and, very solid. I currently use Microsoft ISA firewall for VPN, but
it's not always easy to work with.

The last thing, is your DSL provider letting you choose the router?
Some of them don't because of low level hardware incompatibilities
and technical support issues. If you get a router from the dsl
provider configuring a second for VPN traffic only can get a little
tricky. Mostly because the DSL provider controls one of the routers.


--- In vantage@y..., Darren Mann <dmann@m...> wrote:
> Anyone using VPN to connect remote locations?
> What brand/model of router are you using or recommend?
> Are the less expensive D-Link or Linksys VPN/DSL routers acceptable
for this
> use?
> What kind of bandwidth do I need to attached 5-6 machines to our
central
> computer via DSL? I have signed up for the 512k option.
>
> I'm just soooo excited to finally have it available in rural
Iowa!!!!!!
>
>
> TIA
>
> Darren Mann
> Miller Products Co.
> 641-342-2103
Anyone using VPN to connect remote locations?
What brand/model of router are you using or recommend?
Are the less expensive D-Link or Linksys VPN/DSL routers acceptable for this
use?
What kind of bandwidth do I need to attached 5-6 machines to our central
computer via DSL? I have signed up for the 512k option.

I'm just soooo excited to finally have it available in rural Iowa!!!!!!


TIA

Darren Mann
Miller Products Co.
641-342-2103
We use Netopia routers. The support is excellent and they will even setup
the VPN for you. We have 3 VPN's for 2 years and never any trouble.

-----Original Message-----
From: Darren Mann [mailto:dmann@...]
Sent: Friday, June 07, 2002 12:23 PM
To: Vantage User Group (E-mail)
Subject: [Vantage] DSL VPN Routers


Anyone using VPN to connect remote locations?
What brand/model of router are you using or recommend?
Are the less expensive D-Link or Linksys VPN/DSL routers acceptable for this
use?
What kind of bandwidth do I need to attached 5-6 machines to our central
computer via DSL? I have signed up for the 512k option.

I'm just soooo excited to finally have it available in rural Iowa!!!!!!


TIA

Darren Mann
Miller Products Co.
641-342-2103

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Bandwidth depends on what you're doing. 512K should be fine. We're running
our main office on 256K (though it is a fractional T1 - upstream is much
better). Our 256K will support several VNC users, no problem. Should be
fine for terminal services, as well. Even with 5 or 6 machines, you should
be okay. We're running 40 here, though nothing but my servers and "power"
users can access the internet except for lunch and breaks. Even then, the
congestion is hardly noticeable.


Christopher Gitzlaff
Manager - Information Systems & Technology
Major Industries, Inc.
Phone: 715-842-4616
Fax: 715-848-3336



-----Original Message-----
From: Darren Mann [mailto:dmann@...]
Sent: Friday, June 07, 2002 11:23 AM
To: Vantage User Group (E-mail)
Subject: [Vantage] DSL VPN Routers


Anyone using VPN to connect remote locations?
What brand/model of router are you using or recommend?
Are the less expensive D-Link or Linksys VPN/DSL routers acceptable for this
use?
What kind of bandwidth do I need to attached 5-6 machines to our central
computer via DSL? I have signed up for the 512k option.

I'm just soooo excited to finally have it available in rural Iowa!!!!!!


TIA

Darren Mann
Miller Products Co.
641-342-2103


Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
We are using two Linksys BEFVP41 routers (150 bucks each) over a
cable connection comparable to yours. The vpn did not work until I
called Linksys tech support and got the newest rom upgrade. I don't
think they have that rom on thir download site so if you want to use
those routers I would suggest calling Linksys and have them mail it
to you. You are supposed to be able to use win2000 or XP in place of
the remote router but I have not been able to make that work and for
150 bucks it was not worth the time anyway.

Doug, the computer guy.


--- In vantage@y..., Darren Mann <dmann@m...> wrote:
> Anyone using VPN to connect remote locations?
> What brand/model of router are you using or recommend?
> Are the less expensive D-Link or Linksys VPN/DSL routers acceptable
for this
> use?
> What kind of bandwidth do I need to attached 5-6 machines to our
central
> computer via DSL? I have signed up for the 512k option.
>
> I'm just soooo excited to finally have it available in rural
Iowa!!!!!!
>
>
> TIA
>
> Darren Mann
> Miller Products Co.
> 641-342-2103
At 11:23 AM 6/7/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>Anyone using VPN to connect remote locations?
>What brand/model of router are you using or recommend?
>Are the less expensive D-Link or Linksys VPN/DSL routers acceptable for this

We use several different software based VPN clients here to communicate
with our customer's LANs. Getting the VPNs to communicate through a
firewall at our (remote) end has been problematic. So much so that we've
just left most our PCs open to the Internet (scary.)

Then just last week I was doing some 'net searching for a firewall, and
found: www.NexLand.com These guys make a variety of firewall appliances
whose claim to fame is easily & securely passing VPN traffic! Ended up
buying their Pro800 model (firewall, NAT, and 8 port switch) for $220 from
ProVantage.com and so far it's working well. Still having some trouble
with Check Point SecuRemote at one site, but I'm waiting on some
reconfiguration on their end to correct a known issue.

I probably should have sprung for the Pro800 turbo model - this one adds a
2nd WAN port and can balance traffic between the two. So you could run
both cable and DSL on your home LAN if you have that extreme Need For Speed ;)

I have no affiliation with the two sites / vendors mentioned; just sharing
a so far positive purchase experience!