Will this old laptop handle a 60Mb VPN?

NOYB

Yup your getting (the VLAN thing). Here's the wiki if you care.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_LAN

I also have one of these which last I saw Newegg had for $79:
NetGear GS108T

But I do like the Cisco SG200-08 better though.

You're going to have to spend some money either way (second NIC vs. VLAN switch).

If you can track down the nic chip set, one of the pfSense gurus could probably give a thumbs up or down on driver support. Otherwise it's a roll of the dice. When spending money it is typically advisable to go with the known.

NOYB

Will the VPN provider guarantee 60/30 Mbit level of service?

NOYB

A couple of the feedbacks indicate that this one works with pfSense.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839158038

So if you're set on going the dual NIC route this one is probably more likely to have driver support.

dalesd

@NOYB:

Will the VPN provider guarantee 60/30 Mbit level of service?

Here's what I'm getting now on APOVPN.com This is with the VPN client running on my deskto computer (xubuntu 12.04)

"Guarantee" is a strong word, but they can certainly support the speed.

dalesd

@NOYB:

A couple of the feedbacks indicate that this one works with pfSense.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839158038

So if you're set on going the dual NIC route this one is probably more likely to have driver support.

Great find! Another feedback says it's a Realtek RTL8111/8168B:

sudo lspci -vvv
Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)

I looked through the hardware compatibility list, but didn't see that. Maybe I'm reading it wrong, because at least two Newegg reviewers are using it.

As I was falling asleep last night, I remembered that DD-WRT can do VLANs.

I need to do more homework on this, but here's my plan:

Use the DD-WRT router as the VLAN switch as mentioned above.
I'll also buy the ExpressCard Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapter Card.
If the VLAN thing on DD-WRT doesn't work out, I can make the pfsense box the gateway.
If it does work out, I'll at least have upgraded the old laptop to Gigabit speed.

I'm assuming the on-board 10/100 NIC in the laptop can't really handle 60 megabits. I guess I'll find out. :)

kejianshi

I don't think DDWRT will give you VLAN tagging. I'm pretty sure it only handles creating untagged VLANS, which means it will not help you if your laptop only has 1 port.

So, you will either need that NIC card (which is looking pretty good) or a true managed VLAN switch.

(If I am wrong about the VLAN tagging, anyone feel free to correct me)

doktornotor

Well it does VLAN tagging, provided it's not broken on particular hardware. :D

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/VLAN_Bridging_WAN_and_a_LAN_port#802.1q_VLAN_trunk

kejianshi

My thinking (or pehaps misunderstanding) was that the VLANS exist within DDWRT such that you can do things like making dual WANs that are isolated or created Isolated LANs but that DDWRT didn't actually tag VLANs such that you could have say VLAN 20 and VLAN 30 ride on a single port of DDWRT.

However, I'm used to being wrong, so if I am, it will be no great surprise. Happens alot.
If It will work just fine that way, I've wasted some money buying another switch.

kejianshi

OK - I see the source of my confusion now… Not all DDWRT routers support tagging of trunks.

The ones that do are listed here in the 802.1q VLAN's column:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/VLAN_Support

Also, "I'm assuming the on-board 10/100 NIC in the laptop can't really handle 60 megabits." - I'd bet that it can.

stephenw10

Yes, interesting isn't it. Fundamentally almost all SOHO routers use a VLAN capable switch chip internally. To get them talking VLANs externally should be a software exercise only but it's often not that straight forward. This also has implications for their throughput. Usually at least one port is directly connected to the CPU and all the others are in fact switch ports. The best throughput can be obtained using only one switch port.

Steve

kejianshi

Actually - It was you who mentioned this to someone else earlier (much earlier) and got me to take at look at that. Before that, I was considering trying to use DDWRT for VLAN, but then decided its probably a pain and perhaps not great solution.