This feature can be used by firms to monitor traffic for problems and verify whether service providers are meeting service-level agreements. Next Generation software also includes support for Differentiated Services, the scheme for tagging IP packets so they are treated with varying levels of priority. The software also adds the ability to try alternative access to resources if the primary link fails. So, for example, a user at a branch office might try to reach a server at headquarters and the connection fails. The branch-office server would instead make a VPN connection to another branch office that has a dedicated link to headquarters.
Users have to weigh the importance of the traffic that travels over the alternate, dedicated route.
These dedicated links are usually sized for a certain amount of traffic and could become congested if all VPN traffic to a downed site is allowed to cross them, he says. These new features are available now as a free upgrade to customers with a software subscription contract. Other recent articles by Greene Network World on VPNs Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter. Our guidelines for choosing what type of connection to use for VPNs will tell you how DSL stacks up against alternatives. To top Request a reprint of this article.