New to VPN

[blakrapter]

Hello all.

I appologize for stupid questions, but I am stupid when it comes to networking. I wuold like to say that I am NOT trying to setup my own network because I know enough to know I cannot do it. However, I have been doing some research and need a little help explaining the difference between site to site and remote VPNs.

I have been searching for a way to map a remote server to my home desktop and laptop when on the road. I don't want to do ftp and download, modify, upload, etc. I also need file locking. After some research, I believe a VPN is the answer. I have read their are two main types: Site to Site and Remote.

What is the difference between the two? Advantages and disadvantages?

At first glance, the remote seems better, but I am afraid this is basically remote desktoping, which is not a good idea for me. I do a lot of CAD work with dual monitors, so that is a lot of graphics info that must be transferred over residential lines... I mainly want to easily, conveniently, and securely transfer files.

 

[North323]

a site to site VPN is just that a VPN between two 'sites' or peers. Usually between two security devices. A remote VPN is from a desktop or laptop to a security device. the remote vpn is not remote desktop. you are creating a secure channel between your computer and the end point

 

[mmcm888]

A Remote Access VPN is what you need. This (if setup correctly) will allow your laptop/desktop to map a network drive on the office server so that you can copy/edit/replacve files on the server. It will also allow you to do remote desktop if you wish.

If you are not tech savvy, you should look at using a Hosted VPN service which will do what you want without needing any additional hardware.

mo.

Hosted VPN Service

http://www.accessmylan.com

 

[blakrapter]

Thanks for the info guys. I have talked to two different hosted solutions. One told me they could do either (site to site or client/remote based) and other said they could do site to site only. They claim the remote based is a security risk...

I did read somewhere that the remote is at a higher risk because your computer basically acts as a bridge from the internet to your VPN which *might* allow an attact on your computer from the internet that would then give the attacker access to the VPN. As I stated earlier, I am not tech savy with this kind of thing, but it does make sense to me (I can see how it would happen, but do not know the likely hood or difficulty to successfully do this). The site to site would have a hardware firewall to block those attacks. The solution suggested in the article was to setup the VPN as a proxy server so that all data (VPN data, email, and browsing) would run through the secure connection between the computer and VPN server. This will of course eat up more bandwith.


Thoughts?