[Tfug] Router with VPN

[Matt Jacob]

A couple things:

# If you want something integrated in the router, make sure you get a
VPN endpoint router and not just a router that can do VPN passthrough.
My understanding is that routers with VPN passthrough simply don't
mess with L2TP and PPTP packets when doing NAT (i.e. for connecting
out to work or something).

# If you get a device that's compatible with DD-WRT
[http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices], you can
install the OpenVPN-enabled version of DD-WRT and use that. DD-WRT is
very good, and OpenVPN can pretty much do anything you want.

Matt

On 6/17/07, Bill M. <beelymagee at cox.net> wrote:
> I've been running a Smoothwall.org installation for my firewall system
> facing my Cox cable connection (and Qwest before that, Earthlink before
> that...) I've been doing an SSH connection to the firewall box with
> SOCKS while out using free, open WiFi - works, but have to do config
> changes to proxy for each client application. The older PC running
> Smoothwall is showing its age: hard drive whine, consuming too much
> energy, etc. so I'd like to investigate other options.
> Here's how I've been doing this:
> ssh -D 3456 -p 888 <user>@staticIP-address (port #s changed)
> Sets up a tunnel on the Destination port "3456" using the firewall port
> "888"
> I then tell Firefox network proxy to use 127.0.0.1 Port 3456 in the
> SOCKS config field and all my web traffic goes out to port 3456 to the
> Smoothwall box and then back out to the desired web site. (Same setup
> for Thunderbird.) End result: encrypted WiFi traffic through the SSH
> tunnel and open, in-the-clear leaving the Smoothwall box.
> I'd like to have a much simpler, appliance-like device providing
> system-level connection. My limited understanding is that a VPN
> connection provides encrypted connection for all "client" applications
> with no additional settings in each program. A VPN client on the local
> PC is used to manage connection to the VPN server at home. I want to
> have secure, encrypted connection while surfing in open, unsecure
> environment.
> Can anyone recommend a router with VPN capability that is reasonably
> priced? Plug into Cox cable modem and get rid of old PC running
> Smoothwall. I don't need a router with VPN and built-in wireless - I
> have wireless working with WPA.
> The Linksys/Cisco RVS4000 looks nice, 4x10/100/1000 wired connections,
> SPI firewall, up to 10 VPN connections.
> Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
>
> -*-Bill
>
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