Questions about VPNing...

[Murgatroyd]

I need to tap the ECGN forums knowledge base again...

Here is my question.

I would like to access my home computer(s) from work, and I'm aware that I can set up a VPN on my router (I'm going to be getting a new Linksys very soon, but currently have a D-Link), and was wondering if it can be accessed remotely (i.e. from work).

If so, how fast is it going to be, and how secure is it to have that open?

Thanks in advance.

[RCinator]

Depends entirely on your authentication mechanism and whether the router has any manner of dedicated hardware for encryption. Some are faster than others and others are more secure. Do you know what authentication methods your router accepts?

[Murgatroyd]

Not sure..

I have a feeling that the D-link has crap, and the Linksys has something better than crap.. The Linksys is a wireless, if that helps at all..

[Chacal Profile Website]

Check the specs for your router, if it uses standards for its VPN (such as IPSec) you should be allright. Test it from another external computer.

Connecting from work might be a different story, depending on how your network admin has set things up (router, firewall, NAT, etc.). Check with him first, because security people normally don't like people tunneling through the firewall with encrypted connections, even if it works you can trigger intrusion detection alerts.

[Jim0322 Profile]

My ISP requires me to long into my work (university) VPN in order to get internet access. Earlier this year I had over a month or horrible packet loss but that was resolved when they added another VPN server. Using the VPN seems to not cause any sort of slow down for me. I have 1.5M/384 DSL.

Jim

P.S. They are supposed to be switching to IPSec protocol this summer to help keep things running smoothly. They think the packet loss was caused by overuse and e-mail spam viruses.