UFB Router and VPN for small business

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HTTLSTRM

13 posts

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#140576 13-Feb-2014 13:01

Hello, interested to hear your thoughts on what Router and VPN service you recommend please.

Have UFB at home via Orcon and naked phoneline - happy with service, phone line not 100% clear but okay for home use. WiFi coverage poor (long and difficult area to cover). Thought of replacing router but would loose FXS port for analogue handsets and alarm dialler (ATA too much hassle I think). So thinking maybe turn off Orcon WiFi and use AP with 802.11ac for faster multiple device connection (3 kids!!) - would like to limit time kids can access WiFi too as feature in new routers.

Also have a very small business run out of separate location. In process of getting UFB connection (via 2Talk as will use 2Talk hosted PBX service - figure QoS will be sorted easily). In the past have used Linksys and Cisco Small Busiess routers and not happy with ease of configure or reliability (no surprises huh?) :)

Not sure best way to go at work...

Use 2Talk supplied router (Routerboard RB750L) Router $195 + GST with a seperate AP for WiFi and ATA for alarm dialler...

Use something like the Netgear R7000 to keep it simple to port forward for security camera's etc easily (not sure how easy to get into 2Talk router as suspect they lock it down to stop people like me playing and mucking up settings!) :)

I need to be able to securely remote into work (via VPN?) and note the R7000 and RT-AC66U have VPN listed as a feature. Excuse my lack of knowledge here but do you still need a 3rd party VPN provider to allow access to the router from your device or laptop remotely? I will have a static IP at work but not at home. Was thinking if I had two R7000 routers (one at home, one at work) I could setup a VPN between the two to do secure backups at home...

If I need a 3rd party VPN provider, does anyone know if RealVNC is good / safe to use? I used their free VNC service on internal network a few years back and seemed okay but not sure how secure? Not worried about VPN to get overseas TV or movies yet but sure my kids would like that if possible...

Thanks for your help in advance.

Cheers

HTTLSTRM

13 posts

Geek

#987274 14-Feb-2014 14:14

Okay so reading my post I have answered most my own questions...

VPN side of things I am not sure about. Have read there is an OpenVPN available for the Netgear R7000 but only works with Windows (not Android or iOS) - I use all of the above!

Also read but was not sure how it would work that you can setup a VPN on the Asus RT-AC66U using a dynamic IP address? How would this work? Something about setting up a domain name and using a DNS?? Have a basic understanding and though you needed a Static IP so Router can be found on the www!

I apologise for he long first post!

sbiddle

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#987284 14-Feb-2014 14:31

If you struggle to program a Cisco Small Business product (which is actually very straight forward) a Mikrotik device will be 1000x more complex to configure.

HTTLSTRM

13 posts

Geek

#987295 14-Feb-2014 14:45

Thanks for your reply.
The part I struggled with was having to reboot them every few weeks to get them going again. Also have a UC520 which is now end of life but could not do dual SIP providers via CCA so needed CLI to set it up (and told not to touch CCA GUI interface as would muck things up). Spent lots of money getting the UC520 setup and now given up on it as not long after setup would loose voicemail and one number reach features. I like to be able to make minor changes myself as I can do on other platforms.
Will continue to do my research and post my findings regarding VPN...
Cheers

chevrolux

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#987297 14-Feb-2014 14:47

Mikrotik would be a good option. But much more to configuration than a Cisco SMB unit.

Also, there is the Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite. Not as mature as Mikrotik but can see it improving quickly. Again though, anything a bit out of the ordinary is done on the command line.

Also using a ATA for an alarm dialler is just asking for trouble. Spend the $100 or so you will spend on ATA and get the IP Dialler from AlarmNZ for the same price. It interfaces with ContactID diallers on alarms but then converts it to IP. Much much better than an ATA.