SonicWALL TZ 170 25 Node VPN Firewall (01-SSC-5558) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review is for firmware v3102-Standard_OS of this device. Keep in mind that this product offers many optional services and upgrades which can significantly increase the functionality and price.
The TZ170 has a nice, easy-to-navigate web-mgmt interface. It strikes me as a polished, quality OS. Overall features are consistent with Linksys and Netgear models costing about half as much. The unit I tested got very hot on the bottom-center, so use in a well-cooled area. The case is plastic, but well-made.
Now the flaw: this unit, like many similar models, allows you to create access-rules to permit traffic (usually incoming) on certain ports. There is a long list of pre-defined services and you can create custom-services also. Each service has a check-box for "Enable logging", so it would seem all you need to do is check the corresponding log-category and you're good to go - NOPE. It turns out that the unit will only log dropped packets , or as the admin guide says, "blocked connections". I spent a long call to Sonicwall tech support, during which time the rep went and talked to his manager, to confirm this lack of functionality.
This means, for the power-user or admin who wants their daily log-email to show the previous night's successful PPTP or Remote-Desktop pass-through connections, they are out of luck. Some shops will not care, but as most of the entry-level firewalls I am familiar with have this functionality, I was shocked to find out this unit could not do it.
If you do not need pass-through logging, this unit is worth considering.

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SonicWALL TZ 170 - Firewall - 25 Connections - EN, Fast EN

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NETGEAR FVS124G ProSafe Gigabit VPN Firewall 25 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I decided to try purchasing this product even with all the negative reviews (since they were a little old) and needless to say the reviews have made me quite cautious about looking for performance and connectivity problems, but so far, other than initial setup problems it's been working well (only going on two days).
My first impression is that the device is pretty well-built (heavy) however it does get a little hot... I'm using the router with an Adelphia cable modem on WAN port 1 and BellSouth DSL on WAN port 2. The product mostly works right out of the box although you'll have to find where to set the password and change it from the defaults (I don't know why router manufacturers don't make this the first thing you have to do).
I attached my cable modem and was able to successfully connect through the router. I then attached my DSL modem and changed the internal WAN MODE setting to "Load Balance". Everything seemed to work well except WAN 2 kept being reported as DOWN... very frustrated and nervous about the reviews that I had seen I decided to call Netgear tech support... after registering the product I was quickly connected to a technician who walked me through the proper setup... turns out that I needed to change the default IP address of the router as it was conflicting with the DSL modem... I also ended up changing the IP address on my wireless router and disabling DHCP (on the wireless)...
So far so good...
I downloaded a torrent of CentOS4DVD to test the performance and sure enough I was able to realize the combined download bandwidth of both broadband connections... I also checked my remote web server access logs and saw requests for a page coming from both my Adelphia and BellSouth IP addresses... so I know load balancing is working properly... I attempted some SSL transactions and they seemed to work ok... I'm still not 100% certain how things will work with sites that use IP address verification to control sessions... so I'll have to wait and see.
I don't use VoIP and don't run a server from home but so far I can say that I am quite pleased... I hope this review helps somebody else.
******************* FOLLOW-UP TWO MONTHS LATER *****************
I've had enough time with the Netgear FVS124G to discover its warts... simply put... protocol binding does NOT work, at least when you're trying to bind a service to a specific wan port and destination network... so far I've been elevated to Level 3 support with no resolution... I'm sure that "level 3" just means the guy in the next cubicle but it sounds impressive... FYI, for anyone in a similar situation I'm using firmware 1.33... I would still recommend the Netgear as long as your routing needs don't get *too* sophisticated... and if the Netgear ironed out the bugs in its firmware it would be perfect... the only other device I've found that performs the same features and more is the PepLink Balance 200... but it costs four times as much!

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The NETGEAR FVS124G ProSafe Gigabit VPN Firewall offers enterprise-level protection, performance, and reliability to remote workers. With dual 10/100 WAN ports, you can connect a second network connection thereby providing failover protection.
Fast Gigabit Performance The FVS124G has four auto-sensing 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports for gigabit speeds, allowing for speedy connections between servers and workstations, and also for use as a backbone for switches.
High-class Security For businesses that require more than just a simple NAT router, the FVS124G offers significantly more protection. It provides: a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall to prevent Denial of Service attacks, an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), the ability to block Java/URL/ActiveX based on extension, and FTP/SMTP/RPC program filtering.
The FVS124G is VPNC tested and features 25 dedicated VPN tunnels for secure data transmission over the Internet. IPSec-based 256-bit (AES) encryption is also supported.
Easy Setup NETGEAR's Smart Wizard makes installation a breeze. A VPN wizard lets you create rules that allow up to 253 remote PCs or sites to connect from locations with IP addresses that are not known in advance. Additionally, SNMP support provides complete remote administration and monitoring. DHCP and PPPoE support makes widespread deployment simple.
The NETGEAR FVS124G ProSafe Gigabit VPN Firewall is backed by a 3-year warranty.
What's in the Box FVS124G ProSafe Gigabit VPN Firewall, ethernet cable, installation guide, resource CD, warranty/support information card.

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NETGEAR FVS338 ProSafe VPN Firewall 50 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought 2 of these for vpn tunnel between 2 offices, after updating to the june 2007 firmware everything worked like a charm. I share IP based phone system, Ip based camera system, and exchange servers between the two offices, the vpn works great between both offices. Everything works no problems. Maybe this model had problems before but it seems great to me now... Oh another thing I called up netgear support to help me setup the vpn and they practically setup my vpn on both ends by remote login. They made sure everything worked and even called me next day to make sure everything was working fine. All I did later was change the passwords and the vpn key. Overall a good buy.

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50 VPN Tunnels for Encrypted Remote Access.NETGEAR's ProSafe™ VPN Firewall with Dial Back-up is a SNMP-Manageable, high-performance network solution that furnishes multidimensional security. Fully equipped and broadband-capable, this Virtual Private Network (VPN) firewall comes with connection insurance: a built-in serial port for dial-up access. This practical feature means your business can maintain operation if your broadband Internet connection fails.It lets you retain an analog modem for emergency backup and also provides a migration path from analog to broadband, making the transition effortless.High on security, this true firewall provides Denial of Service (DoS) protection and Intrusion Detection using Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), URL keyword filtering, logging, reporting, and real-time alerts. It supports up to 50 IPSec VPN tunnels simultaneously using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), reducing your operating costs and improving the security of your network. With 8 auto-sensing, Auto Uplink switched LAN ports and Network Address Translation (NAT) routing, up to 253 users can access your broadband connection at the same time.

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NETGEAR FVX538 ProSafe VPN Firewall 200 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)While I have been very pleased with the performance of this product, configuration and setup was very easy, and even updates to the device are easy to do, it's not reliable.
It seems that every 3 or 4 days I lose connection to the Internet. This is a 7 PC network, couple of servers. There really isn't huge bandwidth being used. But it is like it gets frozen - you can't ping it, you can't get to anything on the outside like the gateway or DNS servers, and a simple power reset gets it working again.
Nothing is in the log, I have to believe this is some sort of firmware problem. I have checked all the ideas on Netgear's site without help. I know at least some of the time it freezes during the middle of the night, when no one is using it. Could it be getting zapped from the outside somehow? But it sure is not reliable, I can't recommend it.

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High Performance, Manageable Dual WAN Security Firewall.At the heart of your office network, NETGEAR's high performance security appliance, ProSafe™ VPN Firewall 200 offers a complete security solution for small and medium sized companies. This rack-mountable, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall is equipped with support for up to 200 security associations (VPN tunnels). The FVX538 can serve as a DHCP Server, supports Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Quality of Service (QoS) and has a powerful SPI firewall to protect your PCs against intruders and most common Internet attacks.Featuring eight auto-sensing 10/100 Mbps LAN ports, one Gigabit LAN port and two 10/100 WAN ports, the ProSafe VPN Firewall FVX538 lets multiple computers in your office share two Internet connections. The dual WAN ports let you connect a second Internet line as a backup to insure that you're never disconnected. Or, use both Internet ports at the same time, and let the router balance your office's requirements between them for maximum bandwidth efficiency. One LAN port can be dedicated as a hardware DMZ port for safely providing services to the Internet without compromising security on your LAN.With enterprise-class 90+ Mbps firewall and up to 100 Mbps VPN throughput, the FVX538 is an ideal headquarter security solution for companies that need rock solid network protection and fast, secure VPN access for remote employees and branch offices at a cost-effective price point. NETGEAR's timesaving VPN Wizard and SmartWizard simplify setup and VPN administration. Includes, at no extra cost, the ProSafe VPN Client software 5-user license, a $150 value.

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Netgear FVS336G ProSafe Dual WAN GigaBit SSL VPN Firewall Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)3.0.6-29 Firmware Update
I thought this update fixed problems with NAT rules. It did fix the bug where inbound NAT rules were damaged on restart, but now newly created outbound NAT rules don't work! Packets go from LAN to WAN but the responses are lost without even triggering dropped packet logging. Netgear online support doesn't seem to have the technical knowledge to investigate.
Stay away from this router. You will never get it working.Earlier reviews follow.
-----------------
This router has suffered numerous firmware bugs that prevent it from working securely and reliably. Tech support's answer is always to hard-reset and reprogram manually. Reprogramming using a backup file only restores whatever corruption you're trying to get rid of. This is a BUSINESS class router! Manually reprogramming takes at least an hour. After fixing the bug that gave admin privileges to Telnet without a password, I've picked up a bug where an important NAT rule vanishes on each reboot. I've been told by Netgear Support to install the beta firmware update (and then manually reprogram AGIAN) but they never sent it to me and they stopped responding to the trouble ticket. Netgear has a forum that they recommend for fast support but it's staffed by illiterates. I can't tell what they're trying to say.
There's still no VPN client software for 64 bit systems.
-----------------
Firmware 3.0.5-25 may grant administrative access to everybody on the LAN through Telnet. If this happens, you can't set a password and you can't turn the feature off. The ONLY solution is to reset to factory defaults and re-configure from scratch. If Amazon let me, I'd drop to no stars until this is fixed.
-----------------
This little box is awesome. This is for anyone who has multiple internet connections, multiple static IP addresses, multiple home servers, or any other problem that a "home router" can't handle. Gigabit ports and the custom NAT rules allow a home server, a desktop computer, and a NAS can talk to each other at raw Gigabit speed.
The best feature isn't obvious until you're half way through the initial configuration - it's actually easy to set up. The web GUI is clear, full of help, responsive, and it tells you about potential conflicts. The owner's guide is all about how to create your network. It doesn't waste your time with Windows screenshots. Ping, traceroute, DNS, and packet sniffing tools are built-in for troubleshooting mistakes without yanking wires.
A test of NAT showed about 52Mbps, which isn't too bad for a small box. The only bug I've seen so far is that routing might not work immediately after setting up a custom NAT rule.

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Netgear Dual Wan Giga Firewall

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Peplink Balance 30 Multi-WAN Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned this router for almost two years. Although expensive, it is worth every penny. I have it connected to my DSL and cable modems. I get incredible download and upload speeds. Skype works like a dream. And, I have had no problems whatsoever. The router setup is relatively easy. If you need a multiwan router the Peplink 30 is worth considering.

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The PePLink Balance 30 helps protect your business continuity by seamlessly connecting your business to the Internet through multiple independent links, and intelligently managing the links to provide automatic failover and enhanced performance.

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Cisco 1841 Integrated Services Router - router ( CISCO1841 ) Review

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(More customer reviews)This router is more robust and flexible than most out there for the price. It has features such as dual-WAN (properly executed, unlike most consumer dual WAN products out there), it has excellent firewall features, and it includes Cisco SDM, their configuration tool that helps avoids misconfiguration leading to security holes and functionality problems.
HOWEVER - Cisco is IMPOSSIBLE to deal with. They require a maintenance contract to be purchased with a Cisco reseller simply to download a software update. It infuriates me that I would have to pay money to someone for doing nothing but displaying a Cisco logo. I am perfectly able to apply updates on my own without having to pay - and Cisco should catch up with the times. This practice of requiring maint contracts for any downloaded updates is a major negative and steers me to look for other products.

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Cisco 1800 Series Integrated Services Routers Cisco 1800 Series integrated services routers are the next evolution of the award-winning Cisco 1700 Series modular access routers. The Cisco 1841 router is designed for secure data connectivity and provides significant additional value compared to prior generations of Cisco 1700 Series routers by offering more than a fivefold performance increase, integrated hardware-based encryption enabled by an optional Cisco IOS® Software security image, and a dramatic increase in interface card slot performance and density while maintaining support for more than 30 existing WAN interface cards (WICs) and multiflex trunk cards (voice/WICs [VWICs]-for data only on the Cisco 1841 router) of the Cisco 1700 Series.The Cisco 1841 router features secure, fast, and high-quality delivery of multiple, concurrent services for small-to-medium-sized businesses and small enterprise branch offices. The Cisco 1841 router offers embedded hardware-based encry

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Cisco Small Business RV042 Dual WAN VPN Router - Router - 4-port switch - desktop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have purchased five Linksys/Cisco VPN routers in the last five years. Two "RV042"s, Two "BEFSX41"s, and one RVL200. (Yes, I have (maybe now "had") a preference for the Linksys/Cisco brand.) But out of these five VPN routers, both of the RV042s have failed (blinking diag light) within about 16 months from the date of purchase.
When not in failure mode, the RV042 is a cost effective router and I have paired them together or have mixed and matched with the BEFSX41, RVL200 and a Sonicwall VPN router (don't know the model since I was connecting to a third-party administered site) with good results. It also has a large feature set for the price (DHCP w/ MAC mapping, 5 IPsec VPNs, VLAN support, etc...) and since the last firmware upgrade, it has not been buggy (unlike in 2006, which was two firmware upgrade versions earlier). It is, however, prone to early failure based on my experience and other user comments/reviews. One reviewer here has stated the Blinking Diag Light of Death ("BDLOD") may be due to a firmware problem although I recall during my first failure, another reviewer (you might need to google this issue) stated that these BDLODs may be due to bad capacitors. This person posted a DIY capacitor replacement guide on the web.
For now, I might just spend the $180.00 for another RV042 so I can easily load my configuration backups. My full-time profession (Patents) is not IT so there's a need to get my End Point VPNs, VoIP PBX w/ SIP phones connected using a Wireless 802.11 bridge, Real-time offsite file backups and remote desktop functionality (for all fifteen PCs and Laptops) up and running with minimal disruption. When configured correctly, having VPN end-points enables dependable offsite computing, greatly increasing my productivity. I'll then research and implement a transition plan on my own schedule to avoid unintended surprises. Note I have a 9 year old D-Link non-VPN wireless router and it is still in use!
Overall, the RV042 has a large feature set and is relatively stable. If you do purchase it, you might not be disapointed but it might be a good idea to backup your configuration settings and have a spare RV042 backup available to minimize downtime.
Cheers and Good Luck
P.S. I found the BEFSX41 to be a the "little engine that could" of VPN routers. It's fast, very inexpensive and reliable. It does have a somewhat limited feature set, e.g., it does not support MAC address DHCP mapping. The RVL200 is also an interesting product - I find the SSL VPN functionality convenient. I have used remote desktop to read my email and pull files while away via SSL VPN - easy, Web-browser (active-x only?) compatible and a no-brainer to use. Every once in while, - it has a "system busy" problem during logon but this does not occur frequently enough for me to regret my purchase.

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Router - 4 x 10/100Base-TX LAN, 1 x 10/100Base-TX WAN, 1 x 10/100Base-TX DMZ

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ZyXEL ZyWALL USG50 Internet Security Firewall with Dual-WAN, 4 Gigabit LAN/DMZ Ports, 5 IPSec VPN, SSL VPN, and 3G WAN Support Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a fantastic device for the price. As another reviewer noted, you *really* need to know what you're doing to set it up (this is not a DLink plug-and-play hobbyists router), but it will do everything that you need in dual-WAN load-balancing firewall/router. It's well built. The web UI is very well done, it's easy to set up and get working (as far as this sort of equipment goes). It has no problem handling a 50Mbps VPN on the WAN side and will handle 100Mbps WAN for a straight-through connection. (In fact, that speed is a good reason to use this device even if you're using only one of the two WAN ports. The single-WAN version (ZyXEL ZyWALL USG20 Internet Security Firewall with 4 Gigabit LAN/DMZ Ports, 2 IPSec VPN, SSL VPN, and 3G WAN Support) is just as well thought out as the 50, but it can handle only 30Mbps on the VPN. (If that speed is okay and you don't need the dual-WAN, then go with the USG20 --- it's basically the same device.) The DMZ is a true DMZ with it's own dedicated LAN port. There is a comprehensive 900+ page (.pdf) manual that covers pretty much every contingency, and includes step-by-step instructions for the vast majority of setup scenarios. (Download the manual from the ZyXEL web site).

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The ZyWALL USG 50 is a Unified Security Gateway, integrated with complete, enterprise-level and advanced security solutions designed for Small/Medium Business (SMB) recommended for up to 10 PC users. Its flexible configuration helps network administrators set up the network and enforce security policies more efficiently. With certified by ICSA SPI Firewall and IPSec VPN, the ZyWALL USG 50's security features also include IPSec VPN, SSL VPN, Firewall, Content Filter, Anti-Virus and IDP (Intrusion Detection and Prevention) for maximum network security protection. It also provides bandwidth management, for QoS of VoIP or mission critical applications, Multiple-WAN Failover and Load Balancing. Moreover, IPSec VPN and SSL VPN design for telecommuters and home workers can access data more easily and safely at home. Remote access with SSL VPN requires only a standard web browser. ZyWALL USG 50's excellent throughput is the key to implement features of an enterprise level to provide a full-time, non-stop and secure service.

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Duolinks SW24 2PORT Dual Wan Load Balancing Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's hard to find a load balancing router for a smaller business that is simple and easy to integrate into the network, provides security and the necessary backup connectivity that is beneficial to a business without breaking the bank. Recently, we purchased the Duolinks SW24 2PORT Dual Wan Load Balancing Router for less than $140. It was promptly delivered and easy to setup right out of the box. We didn't have to call in a "pro" to integrate the unit into our network. Basically, over 95% of the work our business processes require internet connectivity through portals and websites. We need a solid router that provides security as well as uninterrupted internet connectivity. This router does the job. We're using it with cable and DSL. The unit easily balances our traffic across these connections. During the few months it has been in service, at least one of the connections has had trouble or failed but with the router in place, it was a seamless blip that did not impact our business. The unit "failed over" to the active connection without interrupting the network. The router is easily configured through a browser interface and has many different functions we are still learning and utilizing. It provides a good firewall for security as well as the ability to block inappropriate traffic. We're extremely happy with our choice and look forward to learning more about the router and its capabilities. All this makes it extremely affordable for the home or small to medium business that doesn't need the complicated Cisco routers and the highly paid contractors needed to install and maintain them.

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The Syswan Technologies Duolinks SW24 high performance Dual WAN router provides a fast, secure and reliable connection to the Internet. Using state of the art automatic redundancy and bandwidth load balancing technologies, it allows fast, secure and reliable Internet connectivity to all networked computers in home offices, small offices and small-to-medium sized organizations. With the addition of a second Internet broadband connection, the Duolinks SW24 ensures your network not only remains connected to the Internet, but all Internet traffic is constantly managed reliably and securely even during periods of high traffic and heavy workloads.

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Cisco RV082 8-port 10/100 VPN Router - Dual WAN Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Okay, this will be brief and is being posted only as helpful hint rather than an indepth review.
If your speeds are fine when directly connected to your ISP, but are slow or unstable when running through the RV082 try the following:
Under the firewall tab, there is an MTU setting. You MUST take this off of Auto and use the manual setting. In my case the default manual setting of 1500 is what I needed. This solved the incredible slowdown problems I was having - in fact now I have the best speeds I have ever seen on my network.
Thanks to "Lone Stranger" and the Google search in which I found his post for finally providing me with this answer after hours of frustration. No thanks to linksys email support, who was of no use at all.

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The heart of your connection-redundant secure small office network The Linksys 10/100 8-Port VPN Router is an advanced Internet-sharing network solution for your small business needs. Like any router, it lets multiple computers in your office share an Internet connection. But the unique dual Internet ports on the 10/100 8-Port VPN Router let you connect a second Internet line as a backup to insure that youre never disconnected. Or, use both Internet ports at the same time, and let the router balance your offices requirements between them for maximum bandwidth efficiency. The 10/100 8-Port VPN Router also features a built-in 8-port full-duplex 10/100 Ethernet switch to connect eight PCs directly, or you can connect more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. The Virtual Private Network (VPN) capability creates encrypted tunnels through the Internet, allowing up to 50 remote office or traveling users to securely connect into your office network from off-site.

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Cisco RV016 16-port 10/100 VPN Router - Multi WAN Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I use this router on our main network of about 40 permanent users and another 20 or so users (clients) that come and go. At any one time it is negotiating 50 to 65 users via DHCP through four 24 port managed switches about ten 4 to 8 port hubs and six WAP's. Clients come and go everyday, some with Mac's others with PC's and I never have to do anything to get them on the internet. In the two years it has been in service I think that I rebooted it once and I'm not positive that it was the problem since I will reboot the modem, switches and router together. Occasionally things do get turned off for maintenance, but looking at the router admin page right now it has been running 54 days straight. I have to say it is much more stable than other small routers that advertise delivering 99 DHCP address's but really can only deliver about 10 without having to use static IP's. It's powerful browser interface lets you manage port bandwidth, port function and port priority easily. Some departments need more or less speed or higher priority. Security notifications via email keep me on top of potential attacks. The effect on speed due to security features was negligible. The "Block WAN request" even keeps our own ISP from seeing us. All these things are simple to setup. As a basic router it is very powerful.
The only short coming that I see is with the load balancing. This seems to really slow the speed significantly. I think that it is just too much for the CPU to handle. My intention was to have two different ISP's for redundancy. As a fix I leave both providers connected but only activate one WAN port at a time. If one WAN goes down I can quickly activate the other WAN port without anyone really being affected. The other ISP is mainly used for FTP anyway.
On the problems with VPN's, we don't use them so I can't comment on that.
In closing, you could spend thousands to get some of the features that facilitate subnets and load balancing, for the price it works very well.
Update: I have since purchased a second RV016 (firmware 2.0.13) with the same solid performance. I've read about some of the problems that others are having and would say that compatibility with other vendors is an issue to consider. Also using switches versus hubs takes some of the load off the routers CPU.
Update 2: We now own three routers without problem. I know that some have complained about customer service and I have to agree it's lacking. But what I would tell less experienced users is that the Sitemap column on the right side of the browser interface has extensive explanations of all the settings. This combined with a little experimentation should get you where you need to be. The file sharing problems that another reviewer had has nothing to do with the router, it's all about the computer settings. Another reviewer commented on customer service asking about the color of the cables. In the early days of DSL and daisy chaining hubs, crossover cables were used and they were generally orange or yellow and will not work with most equipment.

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WAN VPN Router, formerly part of the Linksys Business Series, is designed and built for small businesses. It provides connection sharing and secure remote access at the heart of your network to allow your employees to access the resources they need to be productive. Multiple WAN ports can be used for load balancing and redundancy. Strong security features include VPN, a proven firewall, and an optional security service that helps fight spam, viruses, and other threats. The built-in switch can connect devices in the office or additional switches.

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Cisco RV042 4-port 10/100 VPN Router - Dual WAN Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I wanted a low-cost VPN solution and had been debating purchasing the Cisco 501 PIX firewall and Netscreen's lowest end 5GT VPN router (which costs $450 + maintenance/support contracts) before discovering this bargain model. Tom's Networking Hardware has a good review about the RV082 holding up with Netscreen's 5GT VPN router in performance tests, which pretty much convinced me to get this Linksys brand. I use the RV082 for our main office and the RV042 as a client in our remote office in mainland China, so I can't say for sure that an RV042-RV042 solution works. Note: If you intend to purchase this model and use it for an international location, however, you do need to purchase a separate 220 volt/1000 mA/12 volt adapter, since the unit only comes with a 110 volt adapter. (Linksys apparently has yet to provide a universal power adapter for this product line.)
I thought the RV042 would be exactly the same as the RV082 except with 4 ports instead of 8. However, I found that the firmware is still a bit behind the RV082 (the RV042 also does not come with an internal PPTP server, though this PPTP server is still not compatible with the Win2000/XP PPTP client). One major benefit of the RV082 is that it comes with a free VPN client called QuickVPN (downloadable in the same section where the RV082 firmware is located). Unlike other Linksys VPN routers, the RV082 using the QuickVPN client avoids the trouble of needing to follow a 16-page procedure for configuring a Win2000/XP client to access the VPN.
The RV082 firmware (v1.1.6.3) contains an "HTTP Service" option that must be enabled to provide QuickVPN support. The QuickVPN client appears to retrieve some VPN server information through https:// requests, which isn't evident unless you look closely at the wget_error.txt located inside the C:\Program Files\Linksys\Linksys VPN Client directory. The RV042 firmware (1.3.1) does not yet support this feature, but their current BETA version (v1.3.3) does (downloaded from linksysinfo.org). Linksys has yet to officially release this firmware, so be forewarned!
The RV units may also be compatible with other VPN brands. We had been using the really flaky Symantec 200 VPN units and managed to get one of the units to negotiate a IPSEC tunnel with the RV042 and RV082. You can use the VPN log feature to see if the negotiation works. Enable the keep-alive option in the Advanced features to help maintain a persistent tunnel too!
Instructions for QuickVPN and setting up the RV042:
1. Upgrade to the latest firmware version (1.3.3 beta off Linksysinfo.org. Additional note: There are reports of problems with the the 1.3.6 beta so have stayed away from using it.)
2. Inside the "Firewall" section, enable the HTTPS service. Make sure to Save Settings too.
3. Inside the "VPN" section, click on the VPN Client Users. Add a username and password that will be used for the QuickVPN Client. Make sure the user that you will be using is selected as Active.
4. Make sure that your client's NAT/firewall has IPSEC passthrough capability turned-on. If you don't, you may see that the QuickVPN client successfully connects but freezes at "Verifying Network".
5. Your client's IP subnet should not conflict with the other remote networks (i.e. Your client subnet should be 192.168.2.0 if your remote networks use 192.168.0.0 or 192.168.1.0)
6. Verify that the IPSEC services is running on your Windows machine.
7. If you are running Windows XP SP2, you need to disable the Windows Firewall. You may also see the connection established but QuickVPN get stuck at the "Verifying Network" message.
A good place to debug your problem is to look at the error logs in the wget_error.txt in the directory where the QuickVPN client is installed (i.e. C:\Program Files\Linksys). The wget program apparently tries to connect via HTTPS to the RV042/RV08 to obtain VPN server information. If the connection is successful, you can see several .conf files downloaded into the same directory.
One another note: Both the RV042 and RV082 have a second WAN port for load-balancing, but I've seen enough reports to stay away from using this feature until Linksys manages to resolves the issues in the firmware.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cisco RV042 4-port 10/100 VPN Router - Dual WAN

Network connections are the backbone of business connections. One of the Cisco Small Business Routers, the RV042 Virtual Private Networking (VPN) Router supports up to four wired and 50 off-site connections. The latter allows users to connect into your network with secure access to your files and intranet. The RV042 comes with dual Internet ports that can serve as a failsafe system for 24/7 network uptime, or as a secondary connection to a separate Internet provider. Whether they're used for backup or speed boosting, the router's networking hardware will keep bottlenecks away from your network, period.

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