Overview

Vigor 2955 SSL VPN Firewall & Load Balancer

Dual WAN/3G

Dual-WAN Ports for Failover or Load Balancing

For Internet connectivity protection, the Vigor 2955 has two Ethernet WAN ports and a USB Interface for a 3G modem (dongle)) which can set to work together in failover mode (secondary ISP used if the primary ISP fails) or in load-balancing mode, where the two ISPs can share the Internet loading. Specific rules can be set for routing traffic via specific WAN connections, or automatic balancing will make best use of resources. Instead of the secondary Ethernet WAN port, you can use a 3G cellular USB modem for WAN failover.

With a Vigor 2955 and a pair of Vigor 120 modems, you can have a complete
load balancing or failover solution using multiple ADSL lines.

SSL VPN

SSL VPNs

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) enable you to link two remote computers or networks securely using the public Internet. An encrypted tunnel is created to carry your private data between the two sites. Tunnels making use of PPTP, L2TP, AES and IPSec protocols have been available on Vigor routers for many years and provide a simple to set up solution for your site-to-site or teleworker VPNs. SSL VPNs provide a new method for teleworker to central site VPN, providing great convenience, low TCO and simplicity where other methods may not be possible.

The benefits of SSL VPNs

One potential drawback of using the above methods for a Teleworker-to-central site VPN is that they need compatiable protocol stacks at each end (e.g. an IPSec client or hardware) and most importantly those protocols need to be freely passed by your local host network. This isn't normally a problem where you own the computers and the network in use and you can install any client, software or hardware you choose, as well as allowing any traffic types you like. Where it can become a problem is where you are using someone else's computer or network where either you cannot use the O/S VPN client, or the host network blocks VPN protocols or makes them unreliable. This is most commonly a problem when using WiFi hotspots or other public Internet access methods (hotels, conference centres etc.).

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the protocol used by all web browsers for accessing 'secure' web sites (banking etc.). SSL is supported by all web browsers, and as it is so commonly used, all hotspots and other public Internet will always allow SSL to pass through (whereas other VPN protocols may be blocked or have difficulty). By using the SSL protocol for your teleworker VPNs you have some real benefits:

Traditional VPN (e.g. AES/IPSec	SSL VPN
Requires VPN Client or Hardware	Uses Standard Web Browser SSL
Support for popular O/S's only	Compatible with all computers/browsers
Licence fees all for some vendor client software (Not DrayTek though!)	No client licence fees
Requires user to operate VPN Client	No special operator procedures. Just use your web browser.
At OSI 'network' layer	At OSI 'session' layer
AES/DES/3DES Encryption	SSL Encryption
Full network access (unless filtered)	Ability to easily restrict users to specific web applications
Network Level Access as standard.	Network level access via DrayTel Active-X SSL Tunnel Plug-in
Teleworker or Site-to-Site (LAN-to-LAN)	Teleworker-to-Host site only

Another advantage of web based SSL VPN is that your host Vigor router presents the user with his/her login page to the network within their browser and then can provide access only to the web based applications or local servers which you allow as opposed to a regular VPN which connects the user to the network directly for access to any resource which is accessible locally. No TCP/UDP ports have to be opened on your host router; if the user cannot login to the VPN, they won't get access. Remote user profiles can be stored within the router or integrated with an LDAP or Radius server.

As an SSL VPN uses your standard web browser, web based applications running at your office (webmail, Remote Desktop, Terminal Services, Intranet, Thin Clients etc.) work really well for this SSL VPN access method, which is called 'SSL Web Proxy' mode. In addition, by using the Vigor 2955 web proxy, you can browse external web sites via the tunnel, thus bypassing any local web site blocking policy at your current remote location (content filtering or local polcies). If you are familiar with 'port redirection' or 'open ports setup' on Vigor routers, SSL Proxy to your internal web services is very similar in concept to this except that the data passes through a secured tunnel, hence increasing security and privacy.

SSL VPNs beyond the Browser Using the web browser for your remote access is great for accessing web-based applications (intranet, webmail, remote web desktop etc.) but it does not provide access to the actual network directly, for example for shared directory access, network resources or other applications which are not browser based. Only data or applications which are available in your web browser locally are available remotely via the SSL Proxy (see above). For full network access, DrayTek provide a Java applet (a VPN client, effectively) which can transfer at the network layer, making a fully VPN tunnel. This is called SSL Tunnel mode. This plug-in is downloaded automatically by your browser from the host Vigor router when you log into the SSL VPN and select Tunnel mode. You are then fully connected to the remote network for direct network resource access. In this way, you are no longer limited to running web-based applications and can access shares and other network resources. As the soft client is Java based, not Activ-X, it is cross platform/browser compatible. If you'd like to see just how easy it is to set up a DrayTek SSL VPN, Click Here.

One-Time Passwords

One-Time Passwords

For teleworkers or remote users, they will typically have a password to log into your office VPN. That means that if they save the password on their PC, write it down or are seen typing it, your VPN and therefore your network is immediately compromised.

A single password provides just a single layer of security; only one fixed piece of information to crack, intercept or otherwise get hold of, and that piece requires only the user's memory. Once intercepted, an authorised person can log into your VPN whenever they wish. By introducing a second security factor, of a different type, you introduce a two-layer authentication. By different 'type' we mean that it cannot just be an extra password to remember; it has to be something that uses a method other than the user's memory.'

VPN Bonding

VPN Bonding (Trunking)

VPN Trunking (or Bonding) )is the facility to create more than one VPN tunnel to the same remote location in order to provide either increased bandwidth between the two sites (load balancing) or resilience (failover) in the event that one tunnel/connection is interrupted. The Vigor 2955 supports both Failover and Load Balancing modes for VPN Trunks.

The Vigor 2955 already supports load balancing to the Internet using its dual-WAN ports. VPN trunking enables two tunnels to be created (one through each WAN connection) to the same remote location. This creates a single virtual tunnel, as far as the traffic and LAN devices/clients are concerned so you truly have the full bandwidth available across the VPN.

In the diagram above, you can see a single virtual tunnel as far as the LAN at each end is concerned. Within the router, two WAN connections are being used with each router, across which the VPN tunnel can be spread, increasing total capacity and/or redundancy (for failover).

3G

3G Cellular Data Features

The Vigor 2955's USB port can host a compatible 3G modem or cellphone for access to the cellular network for full Internet Access. Most UK networks now provide high speed HSDPA data connections at up to 3.6Mb/s download speed (and later maybe up to 7Mb/s)). The 3G connection can be used as your primary/only Internet access, or as backup to your main ADSL line connection. This is not only ideal for homes or offices which don't want to pay fixed line + broadband rental, but also for temporary locations, or those to where fixed lines aren't available.

With the Wireless LAN equipped models of the Vigor 2820 series, your local users can be connected wirelessly to the router, so instant free 'hotspots' can be deployed quickly and easily. Mains power is required for the router's PSU, but this could be from a mobile generator or equivalent so you need to plan for this.

Supported 3G Modems / Phones Huawei E156G Huawei E160 / E / X / G Huawei E169 / G Huawei E170 Huawei E172 Huawei E180 Huawei E220 Huawei E226 Huawei E230 Huawei E270 Huawei E272 Huawei E1550 Vodafone K3565 / K3565-H (not K3565-z) Vodafone K3520 / K3520-H (not K3520-z) Vodafone K3760 T-Mobile 110 T-Mobile Web'n'walk Stick III Nokia N70 Nokia N95 Nokia 6233 Nokia N73 Nokia E65 Novatel MC950D Novatel MC930D Option Globesurfer iCon 7.2 Option Globesurfer iCon 225 Sierra Aircard 876u Sierra 875U Sierra 885 Telstra HSDPA USB Modem 4G System XSPlug P3 MomoDesign MD-@ Benq EF91 LG U8380 Telstra Next G 3G USB Bandrich Bandluxe C100 Bandrich Bandluxe C100S Bandrich Bandluxe C120 Amoi H01 Aiko 76E BigPond Next G C-Motech D-50 ASUS T500 Modem Zapp Telemodem Z020 ZTE AC8700 3G ZTE MF622 ZTE MF627 Additional Modem Support is added continuously or you can request specific models by following the Instructions Here. A USB connection cable is required for your phone (not supplied).

The Vigor 2955 and 3G cellular modem setup is ideal for:

• Backup to your primary Internet feed (ADSL, cable etc.)
• Providing lower cost broadband than a fixed line solution
• Areas without fixed line broadband access
• Compatible with a wide range of 3G modems/phones
• Temporary Locations
• Mobile Homes
• Locations on the move - coaches, trains
• Fairgrounds & temporary exhibitions
• Outdoor locations (the router and modem itself must be indoors!)
• Disaster Planning & High Availability

 
Example Use : Installation in a mobile café or moving bus

There is more information about DrayTek 3G solutions here.

Note: DrayTek have no control over local network/provider operations, changes in network facilities/tarrifs nor make any claim over specific network compatibility. Please assure yourself that the router will be compatible with your chosen cellular network and provider and that you have adequate signal coverage before committing to any contract term. Please also ensure that your chosen provider and the tariff allows access to all of your required applications (e.g. VPN, VoIP, Messaging etc.) as many packages exist, some blocking certain data types.

Specification

Vigor 2955 Specification

• Load Balancing featuring:
  • Two dedicated Ethernet WAN Ports (10/100Mb/s)
  • WAN Failover or Load-Balanced Connectivity
  • Service/IP Based Preference Rules or auto-weight
• Total WAN Throughput up to 90Mb/s
• Five Gigabit Ethernet LAN Ports (10/100/1000 Mb/s)
• High-Security Firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI)
• Robust TCP/IP Stack with Selectable DoS/DDos Protection
• LAN Mirroring & Monitoring Port (Ethernet Port No. 5)
• Compatible with DrayTek SmartMonitor
• QoS (Quality of Service) Assurance:
  • Set Priority or Reserved Bandwidth on WAN traffic
  • Set by traffic type, client or destinaton IP
  • DiffServ Codepoints (IP Precedence, AF Class, EF Class )
  • Limit sessions / Bandwidth Limit per user
• High Capacity VPN Concentrator featuring:
  • Dedicated VPN Co-Processor for encryption/authentication
  • VPN Throughput up to 50Mb/s
  • Up to 200 Simultaneous IPSECTunnels
  • Dial-in or dial-out, LAN-to-LAN or Teleworker-to-LAN
  • Protocol support for PPTP, L2TP, IPSec
  • MD-5 & SHA-1 Hardware-Based Authentication
  • Encryption : MPPE, DES/3DES & AES
  • PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) - Adds additional key protection
  • Pre-shared/IKE keying & PKI (X.509) certificate support
  • SSL VPN Host for remote clients (up to 50 simultaneously)
  • SSL VPN Encryption Modes : 
  • IKE Phase 1 Agressive/Standard Modes & Phase 2 Selectable lifetimes
  • Dead Peer Detection (DPD) and NAT-Traversal (NAT-T)
  • Local, Radius and LDAP profiles for dial-in teleworker profiles
  • No additional client or remote site licencing required
  • Smart-VPN Software Utility provided for teleworker convenience (Windows)
  • Compatible with other leading 3rd party vendor VPN devices
• Internet CSM (Content Security Management) featuring:
  • URL Keyword Filtering - Whitelist or Blacklist specific sites or keywords in URLs
  • DrayTek GlobalView Support - Block web sites by category (subject to subscription)
  • Prevent accessing of web sites by using their direct IP address (thus URLs only)
  • Blocking automatic download of Java applets and ActiveX controls
  • Blocking of web site cookies
  • Block http downloads of file types (binary, compressed, multimedia):
  • Time Schedules & exclusions for enabling/disabling these restrictions
  • Block P2P (Peer-to-Peer) file sharing programs (e.g. Kazza, WinMX etc. )
  • Block Instant Messaging programs (e.g. IRC, MSN/Yahoo Messenger)
• QoS (Quality of Service) Assurance:
  • User-Defined Class-Based Rules
  • DiffServ Codepoint Classifying
  • 4 Priority Levels (Inbound/Outbound)
  • Bandwidth Borrowing
  • Individual IP Bandwidth/Session Limitation
• VLAN Blocking across LAN Ethernet ports
• Flexible DHCP with 'IP-MAC Binding'
• Enhanced DHCP Options (66 & 60)
• PPPoE Client and Static/Dynamic WAN IP modes
• NAT, Multi-NAT & Flexible Mapping/Forwarding
• Up to 20,000 simultaneous NAT Sessions supported
• Comprehensive Diagnostics & Reporting
• Real Time Data Flow Monitor, with instant block
• Rack Mountable (Brackets supplied) & Integral Power Supply
• Warranty : 2 Years Manufacturer's RTB included

Screenshots

Screenshots

Live Web Interface Demo