Advice on the VPN router

[yfisher]

I'm trying to get the most efficient price/performance solution for my client.
They have 2 offices which I'm planning to connect via VPN. Also, I would like to offer them the ability to work
remotely (so it should support Gateway to gateway and Host to gateway via VPN client). Neither office has any kind of firewall or security right now, which is sad, but I hope that the appliance I'll buy, will fix that. My shopping comparison yielded the following contenders:

1. Linksys BEFVP41 - $150
2. D-Link DFL-300 SOHO VPN Firewall Unlimited Users - $385
3. Symantec Firewall/VPN 100 Appliance - $360
4. WatchGuard Firebox SOHOtc - $470
5. MultiTech RouteFinder VPN SOHO Internet Security Appliance - $140 + Client software

Any suggestions, first hand experiences or relevant information ?
#1 sounds like a bargain, but what is missing?
Anybody heard of #5 on the list?
What VPN Client software I should be looking for? I'd prefer a stand alone application, so I could configure it
independently of Windows network configuration.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Iota]

I can tell you that the WatchGuard boxes are bad, in my opinion. I used the Firebox II (their enterprise version $5-6k) and had problems with the VPN; more specifically, whenever it renegotiated the ISAKMP exchange, the traffic died off for 2-3 seconds which is unacceptable for the traffic we pass. I ended up going with a PIX solution, but unfortunately, it's not as cheap as the above.

I have heard good things about the Symantec Appliance although I've had no first hand experience with it.

Another option is to use Win2K VPN options, if you have W2K machines. You could have 1 Server at each office vpn to each other and set the default route on the client workstations to the server. I'd still recommend a firewall of some sort, but If you already have win2k boxes, there is your vpn solution and no additional cost.

Iota

 

[yfisher]

Thanks a lot for the input.
I've heard good thing about Symantec myself, but mostly on the net, not from someone I know.
W2K as VPN is not a best solution in my opinion. I want dedicated and manageable box without the MS dependency.