From: hmrside@hotmail.com   
      
   Marpilli bon@gmail.com> wrote:   
   > I'm looking for equipment recommendations to setup a point-to-point   
   > hardware VPN between two locations.   
      
   > Both locations are broadband.  The 'A' Side has a static IP.  ALL traffic   
   > from site 'B' will be pushed through the tunnel to side 'A'.   
      
   > I've been looking at purchasing a couple of Netgear FVSxxx models or D-Link   
   > DI-80xHV models.   
      
   > Any thoughts on either vendor?  Does Linksys or any other have a simple   
   > cost-effective solution?   
      
   > Thank you,   
   > Marp   
      
      
   I have setup and used Zywall-10, D-LINK DI-804HV and Netgear FVS328.   
      
   The Zywall-10 was the first reasonably priced VPN/Firewall appliance.   
   It is, in todays standard, very old, slow and difficult to configure. However,   
   it does have the best firewall I've seen in the low priced VPN/Firewall   
   appliances.   
      
   Initially we where connecting to the Zywall using FreeSWAN, SSH sentinal,   
   and Windows XP VPN. All of these software packages, when connecting to   
   the Zywall were difficult to setup and all of them had a hard time   
   keeping the tunnel up.   
      
   We have now moved on to the D-LINKs and the Netgear appliances. The D-LINK   
   was very easy to setup and connect to the Zywall. It keeps the tunnel   
   up OK. I didn't spend too much time in the firewall portion but it seemed   
   to be about the same as most residential FW appliances.   
      
   The Netgear is very similar to the D-Link but found it a tad more difficult   
   to configure. However, the Netgear is maybe a little more feature rich than   
   the D-LINK. I also think the Netgear FW is maybe a little better than the   
   D-Link but less than the Zywall. In fact, it may be that the Netgear uses   
   the same embedded OS as the Zywall. The nice thing about the Netgears is   
   I can pick them up for very cheap on Ebay.   
      
   All in all, if you want a simple VPN that is easy to set up, I would   
   recommend the D-LINK. If you want something more sophisticated with   
   better FW capabilities, look into the newer Zywalls. However, there is   
   nothing wrong with the Netgears.   
      
   Rob   
      
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