Broadband in Dublin, decent download and upload speed & VPN

meglome

Hi

I want to connect the two offices of a friend of mine through a broadband connection. But i'd like a good download and upload speed on the broadband. Both places are in Dublin city centre so what are the best options?

I was going to use the Linksys BEFVP41, EtherFast Cable/DSL VPN Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch and run a VPN in both locations. And store the files in the main office using a Linksys NSLU2, Network Storage Link for USB 2.0 Disk Drives what do you think?, will it work ok?

Your advice would be mucho appreciated.

G.

bk

Yes, this should work.

However a few things to keep in mind, you are going to have to look at business BB products (prefereably with an SLA) with high upload speeds for it to work well.

Also it won't work as well as a leased line, but they cost big money.

Remember you don't necessarily need the same service at both ends, however it might help depening on the companies internal routing.

However you could possibly get a service with a high upload speed at the office where the file servers are, while a more "normal" service at the other end where upload isn't as important.

Now for some options:

- Smart Telecom 4m/512k = €120 Ex VAT
http://www.smarttelecom.ie/businessbroadbandinfo.htm

- Leap.ie has some great Business BB products using both SDSL and Wireless. BTW unlike IBB, Leaps wireless products are supposed to work extremely well and they even offer SLA's with it!!

SDSL 1m/1m = €89 Ex Vat
SDSL 2m/2m = €169 Ex Vat

15:1 contention, multiple Static IP's and SLA.

They also have wireless services and even uncontended lines (much more expensive, but still cheaper then leased lines).

- Digiweb Metro this is a new product and it is wireless it has great potential and good reports have been coming in so far about it:

http://www.digiweb.ie/broadband_metro_index.asp?i=80&i2=81&i6=90&zzz=bm

3m/512k - 40:1 - €35 Ex Vat
4m/1m - 20:1 - €90 Ex Vat
6m/2m - 10:1 - €249 Ex Vat

You will need to make sure that you can get static IP's from them.

If these are too expensive or unavailable, then you could consider some of the more residential products such as:

- NTL 3m/300k - 17:1 - €45 (Note they don't give static IP's and don't allow business use and VPN use - however VPN does work, but they might cut you off)

- Smart 2m/256k

- Eircom Business BB 3m/256k

AS for the router, it should work fine, however I would also consider the Draytek Vigor range of routers which are excellent for SME setups:

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/Category.asp?CatID=22&l=2&PcatIDL1=2&PcatIDL2=2&CnL1=NTL/Telewest&CnL2=VPN%20Cable%20Routers
http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=VIGOR2900VG
http://www.draytek.co.uk/

I particularly like the Vigor 2900VG, it includes support for VoIP, could make for very cheap calls between the offices.