Link to home
Create AccountLog in
Avatar of misgci
misgci

asked on

PIX or 1721 Router

I am looking for some knowledge on which device I would be better off using at my place.  I am currently using a PIX 506E, but I have a 1721 router sitting unused on my desk. The PIX is running version 6.3(4) and show mem returns
Free memory:        13997288 bytes
Used memory:        19557144 bytes
-------------     ----------------
Total memory:       33554432 bytes

The 1721 is running IOS version 12.3(9c)
and has 32 megs of flash memory.

I am at a non-profit, and received this equipment through a donation program, so purchasing different equipment is not an easy option (purchasing different Cisco equipment is probably out of the question).

Currenty I have a the PIX 506E set up in the main office.  For the most part its DSL connection is used only for VPNs, and as a backup if our other internet connection goes down.
I have 3 site to site VPNs running through it to remote sites also with PIX 506Es.  
We have a Windows 2003 domain, and these 3 sites have local domain controllers and have about 20 other computers on each LAN.  The main office has about 100 devices on the LAN.

I also have two site to site VPNs to smaller offices with no local domain controller and about 5 PCs at each site. They both have Cisco 851 routers.
All of this has been very solid for over a year - never any problems with the VPNs or Cisco equipment.

Now I would like to set up site to site VPNs with our remaining 4 offices all with 1 to 5 computers and no local domain controllers.  This would be a total  of 9 VPN connections to the main office.  I would also be using Cisco 851 routers at these locations. (Unless there is a better choice at a comparible price?)

So my question is which device should I use at the main office?  Are 9 VPNs pushing it for the PIX?  Would the 1721 handle this better, or is the PIX better equiped for this kind of use?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Les Moore
Les Moore
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
Create a free account to see this answer
Signing up is free and takes 30 seconds. No credit card required.
See answer
Avatar of misgci
misgci

ASKER

So the PIX won't have a problem with that many tunnels?
Avatar of misgci

ASKER

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.