Home VPN Solution

BDillon21 · Post by **BDillon21** » Mon Dec 16, 2002 4:56 pm

Hello All,

I want to network my PC with a friends over the Internet, using god encryption (IPSEC) if possible.

I set up VPNs all the time, but I have never done this type of VPN in the home before, therefore I really have no idea what's out there.

I wan't an always on tunnel that is transparent to the end user, meaning that once the PC boots up the tunnel is automatically initated and connected. Both machines are NOT currently using NAT, but are on a dynamic IP. Both machines are running a dynamic dns client, however.

One machine is running WinXP Home, the other is 98 (upgrading to XP home soon though.)

Currently on these two particular machines we have no routers, switches, or hubs. Just a machine hooked straight to the Internet running Zone Alarm.

What low cost, or no cost option would you recommend? Currently we have been using the VPN capabilities of XP, but it has to be initiated by the client.

Is there any freeware out there that you know of that can do this?
If not, I am willing to buy a hardware solution but would like to spend about $150 total on this project.

Ideally, I would prefer a software solution over a hardware based one. NAT is just going to get in the way for me.

Thanks in advance.

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 10:22 am

What do you want to use the tunnel for? There are a few approaches to this and your answer will help us understand which one makes sense or - no offense

- if vpn makes sense at all.

Will one site be the 'server' or is this a true p2p setup?

There aren't many commercially available products for this kind of setup - not in that price range anyway.

skye

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 10:58 am

If you can stretch your budget just a wee bit...

Linksys VP41 routers....a pair of them, one at each site. They're under a hundge each.

TWW's setup up some, and I'm about do tie two offices together with them.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product ... 9&prid=411

BDillon21 · Post by **BDillon21** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 1:27 pm

Well, I'm going for a true peer to peer, though one site could be a server if you will.

There are a couple of reasons I want to do this, first off is video. We create and edit a lot of video. I want to be able to upload video to him, or download something he has saved.
We also have some documents that I want to share with him as well. Some of the video files are too large for CD, and emailing documents back and forth is getting very old.

I don't really care how it gets done as long as it it, fairly sercure (I'm not transferring secret data), transparent to the end user (nothing required to initiate connection, i.e. double clicking this, logging in to that) and always on.

StoneCat, let me know when you wire the offices up with those, some feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 2:23 pm

Originally posted by BDillon21

StoneCat, let me know when you wire the offices up with those, some feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Will do....the router arrived today, playing with one now, going over the instrux.

TWW just did his this past weekend I think, he should be able to have good input for ya.

***edited***

Project just ground to a hault....after playing with the Linky...I go to the Forwarding page to ensure UPnP support was there...and I find it does not support it...not does the latest firmware which I quickly downloaded and installed.

The client needs UPnP support for Windows XP Messaging functionality.

BDillon21 · Post by **BDillon21** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 4:24 pm

So, got any Linkies you wanna sell??

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 4:34 pm

Heh, 2 of them sitting in the office, but I bet you can find them cheaper than we pay for them....we get through Ingram Micro, and mark up quite a bit!
95 bucks per.

I'm pissed....looked up on their site last week, but apparently I peeked at the BEFSX41's manual, which is only a VPN endpoint router, I confused the manual for the VP41. Grrr....stupid me...stupid stupid me.
//bangs head against wall//

BDillon21 · Post by **BDillon21** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 7:29 pm

Shoot me an email with what you'd take for both, if interested.

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 4:25 am

YOSC- sorry they didn't work out for you. In all our messaging back and forth, I don't remember talking about UPnP- yes, only the SX41 offers UPnP support, but it is having many, many problems. Linksys has apparently indicated future support for it on the VP41's, but with no timeframe of when.

A quick search of SonicWall and Netgear show no reference at all to UPnP support either.