Question : VPN/Remote access issues

Hello Board,

I am having issues implementing a viable solution for my client to access data located at an offsite location. Here are some of the details.

Network1
Verizon DSL connection using a newly replaced Westell 7500 modem in bridge mode
Linksys WRVS440N wireless router
Three Dell Power switches
Dell 4900 server running Windows SBS 2003 R2, DHCP, DNS, all patches and updates in place (Server1)
**5 laptops that need to access mail and data from Server2 on Network2. Outlook configured with the FQDN of Exchange on Server2 and mapped drives to the IP addresses of Server2.

Network2
Verizon DSL connection using a new Westell 7500 modem in bridge mode
Dell 2900 server running SBS 2003 R2, Exchange, DHCP, DNS, RAS, all patches and updates in place

The objective is to provide access for the 5 laptops to access Exchange and Data from Server2 on Network2. This is what I have tried without success:

1. Enable Bridge/router option on DSL Modem2 and configure port forwarding for 1723 and 500 to IP address of Server2. Create client VPN connections on the laptops to connect to Server2.
RESULTS: first laptop connects and operates fine, but as additional laptops open the VPN connections, the response times slow and the 3rd and 4th laptops are not able to connect at all.

2. Install second Linksys WRVS4400N on Network2. Place Modem2 in bridge mode. Create VPN passthrough tunnel between the two routers.
RESULTS: laptops connect and sync OK to server but VPN tunnel only stays online for short times. Evenutually, the VPN tunnel would not even connect so I removed Router2 and implemented the next option (#3)

3. Remove Router2, Connect Modem2 to Server2 and configure Windows firewall services. Assign public IP address to NIC1 and allow only SMTP, VPN, TS services. ISA has not been install. Configure laptops with Windows VPN client. The plan was to test the response times with no additional devices connected. If everything is fine, install ISA. I realize the security consequenses of this configuration.
RESULTS: simllar to results in 1st option.

Additional steps that I have performed.
1. Removed/installed updated Broadcom drivers on Server2
2. Installed update firmware on both Linksys Routers
3. Configured DNS forwarding between the two networks
4. Verfied with Verizone, many, many times, line speeds. We are provisioned 7.1M/768K. When I run speed tests, the number vary alot but even when the numbers are low, Verizon swears that they are clean.

I have spent hours if not days on the phone with Dell, Microsoft, Cisco and Verizon. Site to site configurations are not my forte and there may be something that I am overlooking, maybe we are asking for too much of 2 DSL lines. Eventually, the server and laptops will be on the same network, so installing a dedicated T1 line is not a feasible business option.

I have found a few forums that discuss the slow performance of the Linksys WRVS440N. If someone can make a recommendation for a different router with wireless and VPN passthrough capabilities, that would be great. The only thing that I have NOT swapped out yet is the Router1.

Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.

Answer : VPN/Remote access issues

In my personal opinion there is just not enough bandwidth to do what your trying to do here.
Sorry