The VigorFly 210: QoS, VPN, VoIP, bandwidth limitation and much, much more

VigorFly210’s 1.2.0 version firmware gives the VigorFly210 extensive management capabilities that are typically only available on more expensive routers.

The most significant part of the update is the addition of numerous forms of QoS support to the VigorFly210. Both traditional and APP quality of service management features allow the extensive prioritization of network traffic for specific applications. The diagnostic feature allows you to monitor network usage, creating a traffic graph which enables system analysis.

The latest firmware also provides QoS specifically for VoIP operations; ensuring priority is given to VOIP traffic, preventing poor quality or failure resulting from high traffic within the network. Additionally, the new firmware supports both IP bandwidth and session limitation to ensure the network is used fairly and appropriately. Despite these broad management features, should the WAN connection still drop out the router will reboot itself and send an SMS notification to administrators to alert them of the issue. Users can thus respond to problems quickly and maintain network connectivity.

The firmware also means the VigorFly 210 is now IPv6 Ready, adding more secure remote access and management features to satisfy the needs of both small remote or home offices

Please contact support@draytek.com.au if you would like a free copy of the firmware, or if you have any further questions about the upgrade or Draytek equipment.

VPN Load Balancing with DrayTek Routers

VPN Load balancing allows numerous VPN connections to exist between two sites, and their configuration over multiple WAN connections. This is used to provide both a larger capacity network pipe between the two sites as well as support redundancy should one of the WAN connections fail.

VPN load balancing is a process involving the combination of two individual VPN connections as a single VPN trunk. VPN traffic is then transmitted over both links, with each individual VPN link in the trunk connection determined by the Real Time Bandwidth of each link, which shares the VPN traffic load.

This is a useful feature when a site’s ADSL connection limits network speed. For example, a VPN load balanced connection can be established between head and remote offices over two ADSL links, which effectively doubles the link capacity between the two sites.

The two WAN connections may also come from separate ISP’s,  meaning a VPN connection can be maintained over a second WAN connection should one of the providers fail.

Some devices, such as the Vigor3200 and the Vigor3300 can use 4 WAN connections to create a much larger VPN trunk between two interconnected sites, as outlined below. In the diagram, two VPN trunks are established (one for each LAN subnet) and then combined into one large VPN trunk.

Routers supporting VPN load balancing are the Vigor2850, 2930, 2955, 3200, 3300 and the eagerly awaited Vigor3900 and Vigor2960 series routers.

Details on how to configure VPN load balance using the Vigor3200 is available from: http://www.draytek.com/user/SupportAppnotesDetail.php?ID=973

DrayTek Announces the new VigorFly210

DrayTek has recently announced the release of the new IPv6 ready VigorFly210 compact broadband router.

The VigorFly 210 is an IPv6 compact broadband router with 802.11n WLAN capability. Its Ethernet WAN port can connect to any of VDSL/VDSL2/GPON/G.SHDSL/ADSL2+/ADSL/cable WAN outputs.

The high NAT throughput rate of VigorFly 210 allows it to handle time-critical streaming at ease, so your family and friends can enjoy multimedia applications via the built-in Ethernet switch. And if you are out of the ADSL range, you can plug a 3G/4G USB modem to the USB port and get Internet access instantly.

The built-in 802.11n WLAN AP with two antennas provides you with fast and reliable WLAN connectivity. The WMM (WiFi Multimedia) function allows you to send or receive high speed multimedia traffic easily.

VigorFly 210 offers some extra features that are not normally provided on other similarly priced products. One of these is the ability to set up three separate virtual access points, each one with its own SSID and specific security parameters. In this way for example, it’s possible to create temporary profiles for the access of guests, without the need to use your regular access network’s password. A fourth SSID can be activated by enabling the Universal Repeater mode, making VigorFly 210 to work as a WDS (Wireless Distributed System).

VigorFly 210 provides enhanced security protection and features for your network, including Commtouch GlobalView Web Content Filter, DoS/DDoS attack prevention, SPI, Port-redirection, open port, and MAC address filter. All these features strengthen the security inside and outside your network.

For places where there’s no ADSL or cable Internet access and only 3G/4G mobile broadband is available, you can connect your 3G/4G modem onto the VigorFly 210 and instantly, other PC and devices can share the Internet access. Better still, it has all the key features that DrayTek’s Vigor routers are family about.

On the pipeline is a planned firmware enhancement to include one VPN tunnel for remote access as well as Bandwidth Management features including:

  • APP QoS: Prioritize Packet of VoIP, Video Streaming, IM, P2P
  • Bandwidth/Session Limitation

Further details are available from: http://www.draytek.com/user/PdInfoDetail.php?Id=140#PdInfo

IPv6 on DrayOS preview

In the past, many users have speculated if it would be possible for devices running on the DrayOS to support IPv6, and rumors are found everywhere. We are pleased to report that DrayTek has finally found a breakthrough solution for IPv6 on the DrayOS.

Last week, we received a test unit VDSL/ADSL Router – Vigor2850Vn and we quickly connected it with our Internode IPv6 ADSL. The test results are shown below:

IPv6 on System Status page

After we successfully configured the ADSL settings, the Vigor2850Vn obtained both IPv4 and IPv6 public IP.

IPv6 Test result

IPv6 is already enabled under Windows 7s default settings, so when we connect our PC to Vigor2850, we automatically obtain both IPv6 and IPv4. Below is the test result from http://ipv6-test.com/ and the IP address information from the command prompt window.

IPv6 Content Test result

We tested this with a website that is hosted under IPv6, ipv6.google.com. Below is our test result page.


It seems like not every solution will be available by the next firmware release, e.g., how to set up site-to-site VPN via IPv6, or how the router handles VoIP point to point via IPv6. With this current beta firmware we haven’t seen any relevant interfaces changes on the VPN and VoIP pages of the web configuration menu, but we are still very happy with the result we have achieved today.

What about other routers running on the DrayOS? Will Vigor2830/2920/2820 support IPv6? At this stage we still don’t know which other model will be the next to support IPv6 but be assured, that DrayTek will migrate this feature to some of the existing models soon.

In the next few months we will release more information about how to set up IPv6 and feature some highlights of Vigor2850.

IPv6 Quick Setup Guide (Coming Soon)

Vigor2850 preview (Coming Soon)

Vigor3200 Impresses PC World VN

This month PC World Vietnam’s Khai Huynh has previewed DrayTek’s Vigor3200. Vigor3200 series is DrayTek’s latest Quad-WAN Gigabit High-Speed Security router that has been specifically designed to meet the network requirements of small to medium business networks. The Vigor3200 series which comprises of Vigor3200 and Vigor3200n (with IEEE 802.11n wireless) features a 4-port Gigabit WAN and 1 Gigabit LAN port. Its Multi-Subnet interface with Multi-VLAN function allows users to allocate network functions and resources between workgroups more easily.

 

The June article, which can be read here, highlights the flexibility of the 3200’s firewall measures that can be modified easily to create firewall policies. Huynh found the security structures to be easily configurable using the ‘familiar’ web interface which allows users to create policy profiles for each of the measures including application and content-based filters, with the options to apply them based on individual users or across user groups.

 

Huynh was also a fan of the load balancing feature which supports 4 WAN lines and which works with VPN connections. Huynh tested 4 internet connections (2Mbps line) with 1 PC using NetPerSec Software, resulted in 7.7Mbps. PC World also tested DrayTek’s maximum WAN bandwidth claim of 140Mbps, and reached an impressive maximum bandwidth of 184.7Mbps.

 

Check out the functionality Vigor3200 with our Live Web Demo here.

Vigor2830 Series Preview

Vigor2830VnIntroduction

Since its inception, each DrayTek Vigor28XX that comes out has been highly revered in its domain. The latest of this series, Vigor 2830Vn has just landed on our desks, so let’s have a quick look at its features.

The original hardware of Vigor2830 series has improved significantly from its predecessors, and comes with some additional features from DrayTek.

So what’s the difference between Vigor2830Vn and Vigor2820Vn? Let’s take a look.

From Outside In

DrayTek has continued with the popular sleek Vigor2820 series housing so from its exterior, Vigor2830 doesn’t appear any different. The interior however, tells a different story.

Even from the initial login of the router, some of the new features are apparent.

LAN Interface

One key improvement of Vigor2830 series is that you can now configure up to 4 different subnets. Each of the 4 LAN ports has its own subnet in conjunction with VLAN rules.

WLAN Interface

Unlike Vigor2820 series, you can only set ADSL as your main connection, and Ethernet WAN or 3G USB as a second WAN for load balancing or failover. This is because it is highly unlikely a cable modem on Ethernet WAN would be set up with a 3G USB source as a backup connection.

The new DrayOS delivers even greater flexibility. With Vigor2830 series, you are allowed to set any of the WAN ports to be in always-on or in backup mode. This will be very useful when NBN becomes available, and the fibre connection can be connected to WAN2 through the ONT (Optical Network Terminals), with ADSL set up as a backup line. The software limitations on the Vigor2820 series don’t allow for this, as you can only set ADSL as the primary connection.

With the future network in mind, the Gigabit WAN will work perfectly with NBN fibre. However, if your router does not have a big enough memory to handle such speeds, performance will suffer, even if you have what you consider now to be a fast WAN interface. The new Vigor2830 series has increased the NAT sessions from 15,000 to 50,000 to cater for this.

User Management

User Management is another new feature of the latest DrayOS found in Vigor 2830, Vigor2920 and Vigor3200 series.

This feature allows you to self-manage your network’s Internet access. Each network user can create a unique login and create usage restrictions based on schedules or Time Quotas (length of usage). This also applies to wireless (WiFi) clients.

2.4GHz and 5GHz Dual Band

Vigor2830 wireless models (n and Vn) provide 2.4GHz and 5GHz Dual Band support to strengthen performance in the presence of interferences in the network environment. Note, you can only select one band at a time.

Other Features

Vigor2830 has inherited all the leading features from Vigor2820 series, including the Object-based Firewall, Applications CSM, URL Content Filters, Web Content Filters, QoS Bandwidth Management, VPN, VoIP, Wireless LAN and USB Applications.

Additional features Advanced Apps QoS and IPv6 are currently still in development but are likely to be released in future firmware updates.

Price and Release Date

We are currently waiting on DrayTek’s factory production queue for release. If everything runs according to plan, we should be able to release Vigor2830 series in late March or early April 2011. If we receive any updates from DrayTek Global regarding the release of Vigor2830, we will inform you via our twitter page, http://twitter.com/draytek. Prices are set as below:

  • Vigor2830: $399.95
  • Vigor2830n: $499.95
  • Vigor2830Vn: $549.95

Vigor2710Vn Earns Positive Review from DinSide Norway

This September, DrayTek’s Vigor2710Vn, an ADSL2/2+ router for residential & SOHO users has received a positive review from DinSide (click to view the original article), a Norwegian IT news website. The DinSide reviewer summarises, ‘DrayTek Vigor 2710Vn is a convenient and elegant router that covers the basic requirements for home users and small businesses with straightforward to set up, stable, and has good wireless range’ (English translation).

The networking environment in Norway is highly conducive for our Vigor2710Vn because ADSL is their most prevalent connection type, and so we are very pleased to see it be well-received in their market. For countries adopting broadband connections, we have our Vigor2110 series to offer, which has also received a great deal of global acclaim recently.

Click to see the full English translated article (PDF format).


VigorIPPBX 2820 Feature by για Όλους Magazine Greece

“DrayTek has launched in the market a fascinated device for those interested to combine an ADSL modem & a Router with an IPPBX which provides VoIP bridge and concurrent PSTN support as well as ISDN lines & telephones support! (VigorIPPBX 2820)

VigorIPPBX 2820 is obviously larger than the usual ADSL modem/router and, in that level; it integrates ADSL line port for communication with the service provider of your choice, while the modem is equipped with specialized hardware firewall and supports up to 32 VPN tunnels. Moreover, it has a second WAN port for communication with another DSL modem and a USB port for connection with a 3G modem which may serve either as a backup line, or for a load balance scenario. The firewall of the device, which is extremely configurable, allows the creation of different policies for diverse domains and users, satisfying even companies with high demands. Furthermore, it includes an analog port, where an analog telephone device can be connected and be used either as an IP phone, or for communication via the PSTN line port that VigorIPPBX 2820 also integrates. It also includes 2 RJ45 ports where the user can connect 2 ISDN phones, or 1 ISDN phone and an ISDN line.

As you can understand, we are talking about a pure professional device, which can conveniently serve offices and companies.”

Smart Monitor – a free utility for controlling network

With “Business” section of NEWS on PC PROFESSIONALE in Italy, DrayTek Smart Monitor provides companies with an effective analyzer for monitoring traffic of your network.

DrayTek offers a cost-free tool developed for management and monitoring the network. This tool can work with Vigor series routers (such as Vigor2820 series, Vigor2950 series and VigorPro 5510 UTM series).

Each router or active networking device gives you network monitoring but often examined in the analysis from single apparatus (e.g. a PC). However, they could not provide an overview sufficient for analysis and intervention on the network.

DrayTek precisely overcome these limitations. DrayTek’s developed Smart Monitor is a network management software offered free of charge. The Smart Monitor can work together with several Vigor router series.

Smart Monitor provides primarily a tool that assists administrators to identify problems on the LAN. Smart Monitor can be analyzing the data transacted and organizing system logs efficiently to simplify the diagnostic phase.

To optimize corporate resources, the Smart Monitor can generate a report which ranks top ten most used services, this categorization is applicable to all users of the network, leading to self-management of employees, whose network behavior (without any exposed personal information) is captured will tend to manage resources more appropriately.

Take “Instant Messaging” or “Peer-to-Peer downloading” as example, the accumulated live data of “User Top 10″ indicates that are highly used by users. After administrators review the useful data, they will apply protection rules and hence create new rules and management on menu over network. If corporate combines content filtering of Vigor routers with Smart Monitor’s functionality, corporate can prevent access from web sites that might interfere the productivities of users. The content filter and Smart Monitor can be applied at home as a system of family control (parent control) to detect whether the local network is trying to access unwanted activities such as pornography or false network database.

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 196 other followers