Recomendation for VPN/Router Hardware?

[pagreen]

We have a Linksys BEFSX41, which seems to be dying. It replaced a BEFVP41, which died. I want to replace it with something a little more durable. Plus, the two Linksys router/VPN Endpoints left me with several concerns. First, I have always been worried about security, both in terms of the firewall functions of the router and of the VPN connection. Second, we used the Sentinel SSH 1.3 clients. Not only is this client an orphan (SSH sold the product to SafeNet), but it has some serious compatibility problems with both Windows XP, the Novell Netware client, and various drivers. Third, the BEFSX41 only allows 2 VPN tunnels. That is just not enough. Fourth, the VPN is hit or miss--sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Finally, They shouldn't keep dying like this. They just aren't that old, and we should be able to get something more reliabile.

I know that Symantec has a similar appliance out there. I also see stuff about both Citrix and Cisco (which, I realize, owns Linksys). What is good, without being outrageously expensive? What is secure, reliable and functional?

 

[lgarner]

The 10-user Pix 501 will be around $400. Check Cisco's web site to see which model & license meets your need as far as the number of tunnels and internal users. The Pix works great.

The only Citrix product that I know of isn't a VPN but works like Terminal Services. This gives the user a session on your Windows server rather than a network connection. Arguably more secure since there's no data passing back & forth other than the screens. That's for clients; it sounds like you have an office-office VPN and a permanent connection might be more appropriate.

I use Putty for an SSH client:

http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/.

No problems, supports SSH v1 & 2, Telnet, and there are some other programs for scp, sftp.

 

[technome]

Curious, what are are the yearly support/hardware warranty costs for a PIX 501?