Linksys EtherFast BEFVP41 Broadband Router - 4 x 10/100Base-TX LAN, 1 x 10Base-T WAN

Used this router to interface between our T1/Voice router and our 2 server network. Installed and configured within an hour and never even had to open the instruction CD. Easy windows interface.
 
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I have seen two problems with this box. If you are using this as your NAT there is a problem when doing an FTP between two boxes that both use it as NAT. At 100 base T it will lock up sometimes as it seems unable to keep up with the speed. If you do the same FTP using the IP address it will work just fine. I down loaded a newer version of software and it made this problem much worse. The second problem is hard to reproduce but it relates to VPN. With some VPN clients everything works except HTTP. Somehow this box blocks HTTP but telnet works just fine. I have swapped it out with a BEFW11S4 with out any changes to the systems on either end and it seems to work fine. The client that failed was a Cisco VPN.
 
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I purchased the first of these in early 2002 to try for work and in a very short time was able to make it talk to our Cisco VPN concentrator. It was very stable and was able to pass over 1.5Mbps of traffic will doing 3DES encryption. Since that time we have deployed about a dozen of them for various remote sites and have had only minor issues. The other day I was able to build a tunnel between two Linksys VPN routers in less than five minutes. Along the way, Linksys has been reasonably helpful with issues and in getting me code fixes to enhance and fix the product.
 
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I have a half-dozen of these installed in different offices and have had almost no problem with them. I'm using the following configurations: (1) Use a VPN connection to bridge the networks in two separate offices, (2) Provide VPN endpoint for a trading partner to connect, (3) Provide VPN endpoint for incoming VPN connections from home users (using software to connect) It takes a little bit of tweaking to get the VPN tunnels running, but the routers have been maintenance-free once installed. I've got one running that I haven't touched since it was set up nearly a year ago.
 
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After working with Linksys router/firewalls for a long time, and configuring many of them for private and small and mid size businesses, I write this review with some experience with both the products and with Linksys' customer support. (I am also a programmer with a strong background in networking, including VPNs, for what it is worth.) Linksys has entirely failed its customers with this product. In numerous conversations with first and second tier support staff, I was informed that the product has many known problem issues, which numerous firmware upgrades attempt to solve. Each firmware upgrade, in fact, causes this box to function less consistently than the last. Among the known issues are the failure to establish VPN tunnels, even between Linksys VPN products, and regular freezing and crashing of the router during configuration and administration. Even a 2 1/2 hour long tech call with Linksys failed to end in a successful connection, and the middle level technician I was working with refused to continue to assist me when the battery in my cordless phone finally began to die. <p>As for Linksys' customer service, it is entirely handled overseas, by a group of employees and management who clearly indicate to their unsatisfied customers that they do not feel any responsibility for the products they sell. One employee went so far as to say, "There are many negative comments about Linksys products listed all over the Internet, recommending other manufacturers, like 3Com. If you post a negative review of Linksys' products it won't do anything to hurt Linksys. And if you think that any technology company openly admits when its products have problems,you'd be wrong. We all do that." (If you don't believe me, I even have the rep's full name.) <p>I may be old-fashioned, but I believe that when a company sells a product that fails to do as implied, and then refuses to handle the problems it causes should be held responsible for its actions. If you are thinking about purchasing this product, I recommend that you seek an alternate manufacturer. Maybe, then Linksys will come to respect its customers and put some effort into its products. Even if competing manufacturers are a bit more expensive, you'll at least be buying something that works.
 
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I have used these routers to connect several small businesses together. The first pair were installed in May 2002. I upgraded the firmware to allow WINS resolution, set up the VPN tunnels, clicked the box next to "keep alive". The set up has only required a reboot once. For my home, I use the BEFSX41. It costs half as much, but only allows 2 VPN Connections.
 
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