Question

Site to Site VPN

Asked by: avsc

Hi Experts,

I want to set up a inexspensive point to point vpn to connect two locations to the same LAN.  What is a cheap and easy way to accomplish this.

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Asked On
2004-06-02 at 09:33:13ID21010685
Tags

vpn

Topics

Miscellaneous Networking

,

Networking Hardware Firewalls

,

IPSec Security Protocol

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: lrmoorePosted on 2004-06-02 at 09:36:51ID: 11214201

Do you have always-on broadband connections at both ends?

You can use low-end VPN routers like Linksys or D-LINK

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=607
http://www.dlink.com/products/category.asp?cid=9

 

by: daJmanPosted on 2004-06-02 at 10:10:19ID: 11214513

If you have some old PC's laying around you can use Smoothwall (linux router/firewall). I've used them with great success and it's free!

www.smoothwall.org

 

by: Technicon-SGPosted on 2004-06-02 at 11:21:27ID: 11215297

I would also add....

Netopia R910 or 3387-ENT (we use these in about 125 locations with great results)
http://www.netopia.com
and to Expand on daJman's suggestion...Mandrake Multi-Network Firewall (also free...but with more features)
http://www.mandrakelinux.com/en/ftp.php3#security

 

by: timfairPosted on 2004-06-03 at 05:55:52ID: 11221825

I use 2 Linux Boxes running a stock version of Fedora Core 1.0
I use Shorewall for an easy to configure front-end to iptables.
     * www.shorewall.net includes many easy to follow directions and examples

For the VPN, I use OpenVPN.  This is a great little package that is super easy to setup.  It has compression capabilities and of course full encryption capabilities (Using the SSL libs).  The best thing about this setup is that neither of the sites need to have static ip's (that can be a cost savings alone, and sometimes not even possible).
     * I use dyndns.org to run Dynamic host names to make the connections
     * The OpenVPN config files allow you to use Hostnames or IP's
There are also no issues with having to get the remote side to initiate the tunnel because the tunnel is automatically built through the use of Keep-Alives.

OpenVPN only requires UDP 500 to be open on the firewall (can also be changed), which makes it very easy to let through securely, and can go through NAT.

Because this setup does not use ipsec, there are no kernel modifications or upgrades required, which makes the actual Linux install very easy.  The OpenVPN and Shorewall packages are available in RPM format which makes the install a breeze.

Once you have Linux installed, you could have the Shorewall and VPN stuff ready in about 10 mins.

This is in my opinion the easiest, most cost effective solution.  The only cost is for a couple of low end machines.  (I have this running on Pentium 200's)  Performance is very good.  30-40ms ping times across the VPN.
     *Linux = FREE
     *Shorewall = FREE
     *OpenVPN = FREE
     *dyndns.org = FREE (Five domains)

Enough said  :)

I can help with the configuration as well, as I have done this setup many times.

Cheers!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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