LordEden

I'm going to be setting up a very small VPN for a client that I picked up with my freelance business. She has a quickbook style catering software that she uses at her kitchen. She is pregnant and wants to work from home for the last few months of her pregnancy. Her normal tech guy wouldn't touch the network, so she called me.

I've been looking at a few different options for her and wondered if anyone has used any of this equipment/software. I have setup watchguard fireboxes before, but she doesn't need that kind of expensive hardware. It's only one laptop networked into a one-computer network at her shop.

These two things are my best idea so far. Also, she doesn't want to do remote connection as someone may want to use the computer at the shop while she is using it at home. I've already suggested that.

Software wise: LogMeIn Hamachi - I think I can get away with using the home version on her network, but it that doesn't work she can use it for the new few months till she will start to live in the kitchen again.

Hardware wise: PROSAFE® 802.11WIRELESS VPN FIREWALL 8 WITH 8-PORT 10/100 MBPS SWITCH

or

D-Link DIR-330 Wireless G VPN Router, 4-Port 10/100 Switch - Retail

Everything else seems to be way out of her price range and WAY to powerful for what she needs. Both of those routers have gotten bad reviews because of crappy firmware, but a lot of reviews said just to update the firmware and you were golden.

The software solution would work for her, but the commercial version is a monthly charge. The "Non-commercial" one would work great for what she is doing. I personally thinking about going with the logmein home use to let her try it and see if she likes it. She can decide if $30 a month would be worth not coming to work or having a hardware based one.

Anyone else used any of these solutions for a 1-5 user VPN? Maybe at home or in a SoHo environment?

Just to cover all bases: She has one PC running Vista Business that is connected directly to a cable modem. No router or switch. The Laptop is running Vista Home Premium. Her software has the ability to share a database, I've already talked to tech support about it.

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Martian

That software is a scam. You don't need third-party VPN software, since Windows includes the functionality built in.

You need something to point it to, but it'll take hostnames just fine. So if she doesn't have a static IP for her work server (although she should), just set her up with DynDNS.

This does require a little bit more setup on your end, though. You'll need to set up an account on the server that she can use to log in, and monkey with the permissions so she can access the files she needs to.

Those VPN routers also aren't necessary. All they do is create a VPN tunnel between two points -- it's a good option if you want to cross-connect two LANs, but if it's just one or two systems remotely connecting to a server you don't need that. Far more important is security. Make sure she has a solid firewall.

Really, there's no reason to overthink this. A few dozen clicks on her box at home, a few dozen more on the server, take your giant consulting fee and call it a day.

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