VPN Router Suggestion

[Myzer]

Hey peeps

Here's my situation, I maintain and check remote control systems, for our company, and I still use good old dial-up to access my remote control systems, they run on there own private lan separate from the work network.

Now I have been approached by our IT department to start using our WAN, instead of dial-up as all our lines are being upgraded to 4 mb etc.. so speed should not be a major issue. (compared to dial-up)

Now what would be the best way to get access from the wan, to my control system network.

I was thinking using a router with built in VPN support which I think might be my best way forward.

Anybody got any suggestion? or a better way forward.

 

[damian24]

couple of things you can do here... in order of preference...

1) windows server on main siteand windows boxes on remote sites, set up a DDNS on all sites and have the remote sites VPN to the server (that's if all the infrastrucutre is yours), reason for remote DDNS is incase VPN fails

2) install Linux boxes on all sites and VPN across them using something like OpenVPN

3) if the routers support it, have them use DDNS and establish a VPN connetion between themselves (most billions have some functionality of this sort)

4) use DDNS and remote desktop and connect like that

4 is cheapest and easiest, 3 needs specific hardware but provide open access site to site at a reaonable cost, 2 could need a bit of wrk and 1 is only if you've got the infrastructure.


D

 

[HvRooyen]

A few loose thoughts:
Billion router can do the trick, being able to do variety of VPN (pptp, l2tp etc). Beware of Win7 l2tp clients connecting to these routers - temperamental / impossible to connect (depending on who you ask).
Draytek modems may be free of this problem - I may have more info in about 2 weeks time, after I have tested the one that is in the mail.
OpenVPN is certainly a very powerful (and free) solution. Windows server is available if necessary. Be warned that setup may test your patience (to say the least). OTOH, I have seen some magic done with it in very mission critical environments.
H.

 

[aloysiuscarl]

OpenVPN is quite simple, I recommend setting up an Untangle firewall...as the users behind the network also benefit from increased security of the UTM features of Untangle. but I got a few Zyxel p-661h-d1 before December. Fairly decent. Hasn't caused any problems yet any way.

 

[Myzer]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks

Will work on a proposal for our IT dudes and see where it leads me.

Cheers