VPN: How many NICs?

[fissidens]

I'm just in the process of setting up remote access to our existing small network. Much of what I've read suggests you need a dedicated VPN server with 2 NICs, one of which is connected to the Internet and the other to the LAN. Is it possible, however, to just have the server on a fixed internal IP address, single NIC, and route the appropriate protocols using NAT at the router? Our router is actually a ZyXel 652 and supports (I am assured) PPTP passthrough.

 

[jamesbird]

You pay’s your money, and takes your choice – As long as your router does ‘pass through’ there’s nothing to stop you running VPN termination on a PC – EXCEPT any worries you may (or should) have about terminating a VPN on a PC running other stuff. My preference is to terminate the VPN on a VPN capable router – whether that’s a ‘simple’ device like a Vigor or a real ‘hardcore’ device like a Cisco – then any traffic inside the router and on the LAN can be regarded as ‘friendly’ i.e. all the external access policing is done separately from the LAN. But in the end using passthrough works, and MS server s/w supports VPN termination – so the choice is your. All the best
James