RE: VPN --Hardware/software confusion

We had just acquired a company middle of last year and put in the order to
have them added to our frame relay network and of course they dropped the
ball (first never placed the order, then had it wrong, etc.) so it was
getting to a critical time and we have a DSL circuit put in (took a couple
of days rather then a couple of months) and it came with a router. We
pointed them back to our VPN (a Cisco PIX) and all is great. To that we
attached a BOS controller. We have a mix of PC's (5) and terminals (3) and
an IBM 4230 printer. And everything worked great and response is fine. And
we eventually cancelled the frame order. We did have to get the securit-e
software for the Bos.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Pat Barber
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 11:44 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: VPN --Hardware/software confusion

I have never done a VPN connection and I'm a little
confused after a meeting I had this morning with
the telco folks.

The telco guy starts out explaining to the customer
what "true" DSL is and what the distance limitations
are for that service. We are looking at converting
several locations from dial to DSL.

The telco guy explains that they will provide the
DSL router on the wall ready to go with built-in
VPN.

They would provide static IP address on all
remote locations and all we have to do is cable up
to the router and off we go.......

I have been doing a great deal of reading and I was
under the impression that VPN requires a fair amount
of software setup on BOTH ends to work.

Does this router with VPN built in eliminate all that
software setup ? If so....how does all this work ?

I have dealt with the telco guys for many years but
I'm always nervous when they say "just hook up and off you go".

Anybody know of a good book on this subject.