Advice on router

[mkirros]

We're a non-profit on a fairly tight budget. We have about 40 computers on a Win2K AD network, and are currently using our DSL modem (ActionTec provided by Qwest) as the router for the network. I'd like to upgrade to a "real" router and was wondering if anyone could provide some guidance on what might work well. We need Internet access, obviously, and would like to set up a VPN (some of our folks work from home or in other offices), but we don't have a web server. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Ru55ell]

You can add a Linksys VPN router/switch behind the DSL router. I wouldn’t replace the Quest router, rather add the Linksys behind it. Although I don't know if there are software clients that will connect to the Linksys rather other VPN routers. Maybe this is a bad suggestion but I will post any way as it may spark some discussion and lead to a suitable solution.

 

[jpm121]

I haven't used the Linksys VPN model but most of the Linksys consumer oriented stuff really starts to fall flat on its face when you get much above 10-12 users. I'm also not sure about how many VPN connections it would support total -- check that out.

I'd say keep the DSL modem and throw in a PIX 506 or something along those lines -- you get your VPN connectivity and a good firewall. More expensive, but it's not a band-aid solution.

 

[phannah]

I believe the Linksys VPN Router models support up to 50 tunnels, but for each client, a tunnel would need created, as well as having a static endpoint (either a static IP address or domain name).

In the past I've seen SSH Sentinel function as a software VPN Client to the Linksys.