Re: Networking LANs - VPN through NAT Box

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From: MarkC (mark_at_mrccit_nospam.com)
Date: 03/17/04 

Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 11:20:34 -0500

Hi Chad,
Let me take a quick crack as some of your questions. SBS works great for
what you are trying to do. Go with Option 2 for cost and flexibilty.

Answers to your questions:
1) How will the server tell the difference between satellite clients if
they're behind a NAT box (Linksys/SMC router)?
A: The VPN client on the satalite computer will initiate the connection and
the router will not interfere. Remember the connection is initiated
outbound.

2) Does SBS2003 come with all I need to set up a VPN?
Yes and it normally works great.

3) Will it work with NT4
Not sure on that one.

4) What's better for a satellite client -- using firewall on server to
connect to internet, or just connecting straight to internet via
Linksys/SMC router?
Alwasy use a router and a firewall router is recommended. Check out Sonic
or Watchguard. They will work as both a router and firewall. Even linksys
has a basic firewall built in for the budget minded.

5) etc etc

Good luck.
Mark

mark @ mrccit .com

"Chad" <sojaspam@NOSPAMDOTbyu.edu> wrote in message
news:Xns94AF52ACCD645sojaspambyuedu@216.168.3.44...
> Hello, I'm trying to figure out the best way to network the family retail
> business. I'm just jumping into this so I would appreciate any advice.
>
> Some details:
> We have 4 satellite locations, each with 2 computers, and one "main"
> location, where the server and 2 more clients will be. The aim is to make
> them all part of the same domain so that we can use the SQL resources of
> SBS 2003 on the server. The clients will be a mix of NT4 and XP Pro.
>
> I understand there are effectively two ways to do this.
> 1) Use T1 lines, which will make the job easy (becuase the phone company
> will hook everything together and make it secure, right?) but more
> expensive
> 2) Get standard DSL for each location and run a VPN over the internet
>
> Option 2 is looking like the way to go simply because it's cheapest, but I
> don't know a lot about it. Like...
>
> 1) How will the server tell the difference between satellite clients if
> they're behind a NAT box (Linksys/SMC router)?
> 2) Does SBS2003 come with all I need to set up a VPN?
> 3) Will it work with NT4
> 4) What's better for a satellite client -- using firewall on server to
> connect to internet, or just connecting straight to internet via
> Linksys/SMC router?
> 5) etc etc
>
> I'd like a good jumping-off point and any advice, if you can help.
Thanks.