Search Sites Services ITcareers Product Finder Avoiding VPN performance overkill Generic PC-based VPN gateways can handle most connectivity needs. That means that it might not be necessary for users to buy specialized single-purpose boxes that act as the gateway between VPNs and their connections to the Internet. Just routing packets this small taxes processors even without encryption because more of the packets pass through per second. Fewer of these large packets pass through the device per second, requiring less route processing. OpenReach leases its Linux-based gateway software to customers and manages their VPNs for a monthly fee.
Customers have to supply their own PC hardware and Internet connections.
In the case of OpenReach, users get a packet-filtering firewall. Or a customer could buy a WatchGuard SOHO for about the same price, get a firewall and a year's worth of service for free. The question was whether general-purpose hardware was fast enough. Other recent articles by Greene The Fair Testing Charter To find out the the principles that guide all tests, as well as Tolly's interactions with sponsoring and competitive vendors, download an electronic version of The Fair Testing Charter . Feedback Tell us your thoughts on this article or the issues raised in it.