Looking for a recommendation on a branch router

[Bubbalouie]

I need a router for a branch office that will have approximately 20 computers.

The router will need to be able to connect via a site-to-site vpn back to our corporate office.

I tried a NETGEAR FVS318 at a smaller branch and haven't been that happy with it.

I'm looking at a RV042 or RV082 now. I have an old (3-4 years old) Linksys RV042 at another branch and while it worked like the Netgear, I was underwhelmed with it.

Curious as to whether the 'newer' Cisco branded versions are better.

Thanks in Advance

 

[jimbopalmer]

I have not used the new one yet, but new firmware may make you happier with the old one

http://www.cisco.com/cisco/software...rellifecycle=&relind=AVAILABLE&reltype=latest

(The 4.0 is for the newest one, 1.3 is for your current one)

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[goombawaho]

Define UNDERWHELMED and we might understand what you are expecting/not getting. Too generic a question!!!

 

[Bubbalouie]

Underwhelmed in this case equals frequent reboots primarily.

I'm less than impressed with the throughput as well. Both the RV042 and the FVS318 are connected to simple DSL connections. Both DSL connections seem to lose about a quarter to a third of their up/down speeds when connected to their respective devices.

I've still got an old CISCO 1751 at another location and it doesn't seem to lose anything.

In all three instances, I'm comparing the speeds with just plugging the DSL into a laptop. I've even swapped the routers between locations and it still holds true.

I also believe the site-to-site VPN works better on the 1751.

I do like that the RV042 and the FVS318 both have SPI firewalls built in and this is what I'm really looking for in the branch router.

My last experience with the RV042/RV082 series router was about 3-4 years ago. Chipsets, processors and memory have probably changed substantially since I last tried it. Maybe that firmware update mentioned above is all it takes.

I was kinda hoping someone here would have more recent experience though with these kind of routers and be able to say 'I've been using <insert router brand and model here> for the last couple of years in an office the same size you mention using a VPN and have had excellent results.'

 

[goombawaho]

I would say that in any situation, a router's firmware should be updated to the latest version or at least "one behind" at the most.

Before you give up on the RV, do the firmware updates and do them in order. I know it technically says you don't have to, but I talked to Cisco support when they were helping me recover from a bad flash and they advised to do all the updates in the order released so as not to have too large an update at once.

The new ones (and newer firmware) are vastly different from seeing an old (dead router) one and new one that replaced it. So, get up to the latest, run it for a while and then make your judgment.

 

[Bubbalouie]

Will give it a try!

The RV042 is in a branch that only has about 10 computers.

Would it be suitable for a 20 computer branch or is that RV082 territory?

 

[SYQUEST]

If you want a real router with real features that work, then check out Fortinet's Fortigate series, like the FG60C or FG50B, etc.

....JIM....