[jmoney3457]

hey all i just have 1 quick simple question, ok so my dad connects to his companies server from our home via VPN (virtual private network) and every so often *once or twice every 2 weeks* he'll be unable to connect to his companies VPN and i was told that routers aren't good for connecting to an VPN and that I should connect his laptop straight into the cable modem but this is a no can do because we're running other machines off the router so if i do that the internet to the other machines will obviously be cut off, that being said we currently have a 4 port Linksys BEFSR41 router and my question is would it make much of a difference/be worth it to upgrade to a more expensive high end router thats specifically made for VPN (routers made especially for VPN) or is this router just fine?because i dont want to make the upgrade to a much more expensive router made for VPN unless it would make a BIG difference in his few times a month connection issues to his companies VPN thanks for any and all input

[dsenette]

vpn's are generally more affected by the router that's hosting them and the connecting client...alot less by the router you're connecting from...

how does he connect to the vpn? does he have a specific software client or does he just use the windows vpn jazz?

[jmoney3457]

dsenette, on Sep 13 2006, 03:30 PM, said:

vpn's are generally more affected by the router that's hosting them and the connecting client...alot less by the router you're connecting from...

how does he connect to the vpn? does he have a specific software client or does he just use the windows vpn jazz?

thanks for your reply dsenette I think he uses software called "conectivity VPN"..so your basically saying its usually more likely his companies VPN router and there client rather than our router?

[dsenette]

if it were consistant i'd say it might be something on your end...but since it's every once and a while...it just..seems to suggest that it's more of an issue outside of your house

[jmoney3457]

oh ok but in the long run would upgrading to a high end VPN router make much difference or is it not worth it?

[jmoney3457]

any thoughts?

[dsenette]

i can't say one way or another if it will help your situation...but here's the difference between the classes of routers you're talking about...

the vpn specific routers are designed to facilitate you allowing a vpn IN to your network...they don't really have a methodology for facilitating a VPN OUT of your network (to my knowledge)...the client side of the vpn is controlled by the client (usually the client software)..

you may notice a bit better performance from an upgrade but i would suspect that this performance would be better attributed to the quality of the router...not it's vpn status

[jmoney3457]

dsenette, on Sep 14 2006, 08:25 AM, said:

i can't say one way or another if it will help your situation...but here's the difference between the classes of routers you're talking about...

the vpn specific routers are designed to facilitate you allowing a vpn IN to your network...they don't really have a methodology for facilitating a VPN OUT of your network (to my knowledge)...the client side of the vpn is controlled by the client (usually the client software)..

you may notice a bit better performance from an upgrade but i would suspect that this performance would be better attributed to the quality of the router...not it's vpn status

oh ok so basically a VPN router would be more for if we have a VPN network coming INTO our house rather than going out to someone elses (his companies) VPN

[dsenette]

right....the VPN stuff on your router would be for setting up a VPN connection at YOUR location...not for maintaining quality of a VPN connection FROM your location....

some of the newer fancier routers do have options for QOS (Quality Of Service) which COULD allow you to give network preference to VPN traffic...if you know how to set up QOS that is....so that all VPN traffic gets priority over anything else on the pipe (music dl's, surfing, email, etc...)...but this doesn't guarantee success

[dsenette]

i just had a thought for a way to test some of this...IN THEORY you might be able to get a cheap hub and change your network topology just a little...to look like this

from the wall to the modem, from the modem to the hub, from the hub to the router and also from the hub to your dad's comptuer with the vpn stuff...

i'm not sure if this would work but it might allow your dad to connect through the modem instead of the router without losing connectivity to the rest of the house...

i can see a few reasons for this not to work...but you can get a cheap hub for 40 bucks or less..and if it doesn't work you could return it