Networking Geniuses Reqd.

[Wobbles]

I have three F2S Accounts in 3 different locations. I would like to set up a VPN ( I think thats what I need ) aims are ...
1: To allow my daughter to print from her location to mine - seamlessly.
2: To play XBOX 360 to XBOX 360 as If the were connected via LAN but both still be able to use XBOX live independantly as required.
3: To allow remote administration of all 3 sites.
4: To share documents from a common shared directory(s).
5: I would also love the VOIP to work but begining to doubt it ever will reliably with F2S.

I use Billion Routers 7402 and 7404 - Can anyone help ?

ps I dont care if I have to use a different ISP as i'm getting frustrated with F2S anyway and fed up having to reboot the routers to connect.

Any information that is required can be submitted once I know what you need to know.

[Wobbles]

PS All you guys with issues with F2S mine are threefold !

[kmount]

Morning,

From what I can see, your requests are fairly straight forward once the VPN is running. I don't use Billion kit, but it looks like the 7402 supports VPN itself, but I can't see for the 7404.

If it does, you could VPN them all together seemlessly otherwise the alternative isn't great with the built in windows client.

1) Printing is no problem across a vpn, just be aware of the internet being slower than the lan.

2) Not an xbox player, but as long as it can work under a slower 'link' than the predefined lan term it should be fine. (IE, as long as it will work under normal xbox live conditions).

3) No problem on remote admin, just put something into place such as VNC, or Remote Desktop, or even if the vpn idea fails, you could use Logmein free to manage them regardless of firewall status.

4) Sharing files will be no problem, just make sure all 3 site's pc's are on the same workgroup within Windows so as to allow easy linking up and finding resources.

5) VOIP isn't my thing I'm afraid, sorry.


The VPN will be ISP independent but be aware if you change ISPs you will need to reconfigure each point manually with the new IP's for each site.

Hope this is of some use.

[AndyBites]

as chaz said that's all easy enough, do you have any idea on how to get the vpn off the ground though?
1) that'll be fine - i find the most frustrating thing with remote printing are paper jams and out of paper errors!!
2) yeh that should work fine, there is actually an alternative to Live that allows you to play other users over the net (using the standard multiplayer mode in games - but only for homebrewable xboxes i think) so 360 vs 360 over the net should be fine.
3) again as chaz said VNC or the like.
4) again as chaz said.
5) in what way do you want the voip to work? to call landlines, other internet users or just the members of the vpn?

[Howlingwolf]

I wish it was that easy. Even now there are still significant compatibility
issues between different implementations of the same VPN protocols.
Another issue is the number of VPN connections which the routers can handle.
Very few are capable of handling more than one connection at a time. For three
locations you need routers capable of handling two simultaneous connections to
different locations.

For purely PC <-> PC I would suggest OpenVPN which is a very sophisticated SSL
VPN and can handle just about anything over almost any kind of circuit including
wireless.

One method which might work with the XBoxes is to use ICS in combination with
OpenVPN, however this is something I've never actually tried so I cannot predict
if it would work or how well.

For remote admin, VNC is the simplest to setup. Particularly if you don't need
the built-in encryption. Chose an implementation which suits you but do avoid
the commercial versions. You won't gain anything which isn't available elsewhere
and it will cost you an arm and a leg as you will need three licenses.

[Wobbles]

Thank you all for your replies . 3 sets of answers , now i'm really bewildered, in answer to the question "Do I know how to set up VPN" - I thought I did but now i am not so sure.
Logmein works great except that i can't seem to sucessfully install it on my Vista machine and it is limited by needing a pc logged in to the router (I may just want to access the router)

I'm not sure where to go from here.
What routers will handle multiple VPN and do they have integrated VOIP ?

[Wobbles]

[quote=Howlingwolf;84550]

For purely PC <-> PC I would suggest OpenVPN which is a very sophisticated SSL
VPN and can handle just about anything over almost any kind of circuit including
wireless.

One method which might work with the XBoxes is to use ICS in combination with
OpenVPN, however this is something I've never actually tried so I cannot predict
if it would work or how well.

For remote admin, VNC is the simplest to setup. Particularly if you don't need
the built-in encryption.quote]


Are there any security issues with these methods , Currently just to get my XBOX 360 online i have to temporarily disable the firewall which concerns me.

[kmount]

Your 7402 will support multiple tunnels, but I can't get a definite answer on the 7404.

I've never configured a 3 way VPN before but to be honest, I can't see it being too bad. - Perhaps set one of them as the 'master', and then have the other 2 connect to it, rather than all 3 connecting to each other. - This way it means you could have a 7404 which we don't know if it supports multiple connections connecting singularly to the 7402.

How many of each do you have, and if you end up buying a new router(s) think of me struggling with my old dlink ;p (I pay cash, and work for beer).

I hope that makes some kind of sense.

As for getting the 360 online, I've heard of problems with them working with the firewall turned on, but I can't comment as I have no experience there, but maybe uPNP would be a solution to it?

Vista support is there from what i've heard but Windows Defender gets a bit huffy with it.

[Wobbles]

Currently i have 1 7402 and 2 7404's
uPNP is enabled

ok I give up what settings do i need to play with ?

oh and thanks everyone so far

[kmount]

I'll have a look tomorrow at the manuals and see if i can work it out.