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N router that supports VPN

I am looking for a new gigalan router to replace my wacky Dlink DI624. Read an article about VPN, it seems like only Buffalo routers have built in VPN support (Web Access) that allows you to access your home PC storage from your iPhone or laptop.

http://www.buffalotech.com/images/pr...web-access.jpg

I know how to setup remote desktop, but I've never tried VPN. Is this an unique feature or any router out there can accomplish the same thing? Any other things I should look for? I'm ready to spend $100.

Things that I am looking for
1) Gigalan,
2) Supports USB Hard drive,
3) VPN

DD-WRT does VPN - get a router that supports it and you're good to go.

Basically what it does is let you make a connection into your home network from a remote location, so your laptop (or whatever remote computer you're on) thinks it's on your home LAN, giving you full access to your network. It's stupidly easy to set up with DD-WRT.

I'd suggest checking the forums at dd-wrt.com, particularly about the USB drive issue: I have it set up on an ASUS RT-N16, which has two USB ports, and while it works great with the printer, the drive setup has been a little trickier (not that it worked that well with the original ASUS firmware either). They have have some suggestions for routers that will handle it better.

Actually, a better suggestion would be a network-attached drive, and just bypass the USB issue altogether.

I have a Netgear WNR3500L running DD-WRT for VPN.
It's the same hardware as the ASUS N16. Except it only has one USB port and 64 MB ram. I've noticed on day to day use it always has 50 MB free, so the ram isn't a limitation. The Netgear is around $30-$40 cheaper than the Asus.

Main features:
Wireless-N
Gigabit ports, LAN and WAN. Many of the routers don't have a gigabit WAN port.
1 USB port for HD, printer.
Guaranteed compatibility with 3rd party firmwares.

USB HD:
I had a USB stick on the router, but I found the access a little slow via samba. It was better with FTP, but it's less convenient because you need to use an FTP client to connect. And because of that I stopped using it as a storage.

VPN:
I'm just running PPTP, but there is an option for using OpenVPN.
OpenVPN should be more secure, but PPTP works for what I need it for.

OpenVPN is harder to setup, as you need to create encrypted connection keys for the router and your computer. Then you need to setup the client connection on your computer.

Alternative to VPN:
The main issue about using the VPN to access files is the sad upload speed of most home connections.
I recommend using Dropbox as an alternative. I have all my documents stored in my dropbox folder, which will allow me to access them anywhere. (Except behind the great firewall of China, but your home rolled VPN will not make it through either)

I believe you need to install software to run VPN? is that right?

any easy web access type of VPN, so I can view my files at work or internet cafe place?

Quote:

Originally Posted by asian_XL (Post 7294127)

I believe you need to install software to run VPN? is that right?

Depends. Windows has had VPN client support built-in since at least XP, if not earlier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asian_XL (Post 7294127)

I believe you need to install software to run VPN? is that right?

any easy web access type of VPN, so I can view my files at work or internet cafe place?

There is no "web interface" for VPN, it's a type of connection. What happens is that you create a virtual tunnel to access your home network. Once your are connected to your home network, you can access files from a computer that is on and is sharing files.

You will have to setup the VPN connection on your laptop. I'm not sure how it's done in windows, but for OS X it's built in.

You might want to check out Dropbox. It's a seamless file synchronization service. With it you can sync files to multiple computers and you access them from the web. It's really great.

Do you have BB1000 or PCCW 1000M+ by the way? If so, you will also need a router that has high Wan to Lan and Lan to Wan throughput.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/compo...rt/Itemid,189/

The E4200 is not available in HK yet (and VPN will not be available until future firmware update), Dlink685 runs really hot, and the 2130n could be a bit tricky to set up...

get a Draytek Vigor 2130n, I get close to 8Mbps speed throughput in china with my VPN.

I could easily access youtube, facebook in china with no lag.
This is with PCCW 100Mb fiber in HK, and I'm connecting the VPN thru china's 10Mb line.

If you are one anything lower then PCCW's 100Mb line, the best you are gonna get is no more then 2Mbps throughput on your VPN.