Re: AS5200 Newbie questions

In article <hIVQa.3526$>, RC <rcohen@<no>
wrote:

> Just out of curiosity, have you considered a VPN solution?

I sure have-- we're currently using Cisco 3005 concentrators to connect
three office locations plus various home offices using DSL or cable
modems. The problem is that I have a lot of travellers, and their
dial-up-Internet charges are making me crazier than I started out.

> The AS5200 was discontinued back in 1999, I'm always hesitant to expand
> based on a discontinued product.

That's not a huge concern for me; it's cheap enough that I can buy
another if one fails, and my needs are simple enough I don't see myself
needing substantial support once things are up and running.
Unfortunately, dial-up technology has not advanced that much (as far as
I can tell) in the past 5-6 years.

> Consider the costs for dial-up:
> Reoccurring;
> Additional lines or channels

I currently have 10 unutilized channels on my long-distance T1 line. If
those start being overutilized, another T1 line isn't particularly
expensive.

> Long distance charges.

Granted, though we'll be using a toll-free number to simplify the
accounting.

> Per min. usage on you business circuits.

Not an issue.

> Fixed;
> Modems (external or in the Access device)
> Access device
> Equipment to break-out the channels of the T1.
>
> For VPN:
> reoccurring;
> Basic Business internet connection (which I assume you have).
> Some really cheap dial-up ISP accounts. You should be able to find one that
> will allow you X number of simultaneous connection (less then 40) and with
> local numbers.

I'd welcome any suggestions about such an ISP. The folks I've tried
with national presence can't/won't work up any sort of a
concurrent-usage deal, and my problem is theat I have roughly 80 users
of whom 40 may be on the road at any given time. I've tried getting a
group of generic accounts from various large providers and managing
them has been a huge hassle (okay, now Tom's going to LA for a week--
can I give him #12, or is that one in use by Steve in Orlando?). And
with guys in all sorts of small towns across America, I end up paying
long distance costs anyway. So to my mind giving them all a single
toll-free number to call allows me to manage users fairly easily, and
RADIUS accounting and authentication simplifies reporting when I have
to figure out where all the money is going.

That said, I certainly appreciate anybody pointing out flaws in my
theory. I'm willing to look like a jackass here as long as I can look
like a genius when I talk to my boss. :^)

--
Bubba Dave Pooser

A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in
human history with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.

Dave Pooser

I've been a bit too busy lately, so this may not matter anymore.

So let me see if I got this, you have 80 road-warriors but no more then 10
at any given time (based on current available T1 channels). With that kind
of ratio the connecting times would be pretty short, so I would say you're
absolutely right that dial-up is the way to go.

If you do end up with a larger number of users, and need that second T1, I
think you will need to look closely at the costs.
T1 circuit per month $200.00 to $600.00 a very broad range depending on the
term and how much business you are giving the carrier.
T1 usage per minute per channel about $.03
Say 60 users per day for 1 hour each (just a guess).
Whatever the 800 charges are, let's say $.05 per minute.
So it would be between $488.00 and $888.00

Two ISPs come to mind that have national coverage, ispanywhere.com and
netzero.com they both are $10.00 a month and I'm fairly sure that
ispanywhere will do something special for 80 users. But if not, it's $800.00
a month.

The 3005 will work with your RADIUS so that doesn't change.

So it all comes down to the number of users, your ability to negotiate with
the ISP, and the monthly cost of the T1. And the equipment cost to break-out
the T1 channels.

I guess a big part would be personal preference, I just happen to like VPN
because of it's quick flexibility.

Good luck regardless
RC


"Dave Pooser" <> wrote in message
news:150720031727246123%bubbadv@NOcyberrampSPAMDOT net.invalid...
> In article <hIVQa.3526$>, RC <rcohen@<no>
> wrote:
>
> > Just out of curiosity, have you considered a VPN solution?
>
> I sure have-- we're currently using Cisco 3005 concentrators to connect
> three office locations plus various home offices using DSL or cable
> modems. The problem is that I have a lot of travellers, and their
> dial-up-Internet charges are making me crazier than I started out.
>
> > The AS5200 was discontinued back in 1999, I'm always hesitant to expand
> > based on a discontinued product.
>
> That's not a huge concern for me; it's cheap enough that I can buy
> another if one fails, and my needs are simple enough I don't see myself
> needing substantial support once things are up and running.
> Unfortunately, dial-up technology has not advanced that much (as far as
> I can tell) in the past 5-6 years.
>
> > Consider the costs for dial-up:
> > Reoccurring;
> > Additional lines or channels
>
> I currently have 10 unutilized channels on my long-distance T1 line. If
> those start being overutilized, another T1 line isn't particularly
> expensive.
>
> > Long distance charges.
>
> Granted, though we'll be using a toll-free number to simplify the
> accounting.
>
> > Per min. usage on you business circuits.
>
> Not an issue.
>
> > Fixed;
> > Modems (external or in the Access device)
> > Access device
> > Equipment to break-out the channels of the T1.
> >
> > For VPN:
> > reoccurring;
> > Basic Business internet connection (which I assume you have).
> > Some really cheap dial-up ISP accounts. You should be able to find one
that
> > will allow you X number of simultaneous connection (less then 40) and
with
> > local numbers.
>
> I'd welcome any suggestions about such an ISP. The folks I've tried
> with national presence can't/won't work up any sort of a
> concurrent-usage deal, and my problem is theat I have roughly 80 users
> of whom 40 may be on the road at any given time. I've tried getting a
> group of generic accounts from various large providers and managing
> them has been a huge hassle (okay, now Tom's going to LA for a week--
> can I give him #12, or is that one in use by Steve in Orlando?). And
> with guys in all sorts of small towns across America, I end up paying
> long distance costs anyway. So to my mind giving them all a single
> toll-free number to call allows me to manage users fairly easily, and
> RADIUS accounting and authentication simplifies reporting when I have
> to figure out where all the money is going.
>
> That said, I certainly appreciate anybody pointing out flaws in my
> theory. I'm willing to look like a jackass here as long as I can look
> like a genius when I talk to my boss. :^)
>
> --
> Bubba Dave Pooser
>
> A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in
> human history with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.