Hands On: Syswan Duolinks SW24 VPN High Performance Dual WAN Router

BENCHMARKS

Prior to getting this router, I had this grand plan to benchmark the throughput capabilities of the SW24 VPN router.  In the end, I felt it was pointless based upon the way I felt it was best to integrate the Syswan router in my network.  Remember , I stated earlier “Hook it up (the SW24) to provide a vastly improved secure connection to the Internet, and use it to manage your LAN.  Downstream, use a 1Gbps switch where you can and a wireless access point where you can’t.”  Which is how my network was implemented.  Speed was not a factor in the use of the Syswan router.

Once I got everything set up and running, I did “feel” that I my Internet seemed more responsive, but that may have been a false perception.  As a minimum, I have no good way to quantify that feeling.

So, no pretty graphs, no amazing statistics.  “Just” a router that provides security options that you won’t find in many (if any) consumer-grade routers.  More features than most home networks will ever need.  But as your network becomes more like a SOHO network, you might just find those features quite appealing.  Of course, if you do have a SOHO, do I need to say more?

COSTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Pros:

• Dual WAN capable
• Enhanced security features when compared to consumer-grade routers
• UPnP compatible with WHS.  I did not mention this anywhere else, but yes, it is a UPnP WHS compatible router.
• Enhanced VPN capabilities
• Actually quite easy to configure (for the basic features)
• Rack mountable (sorry, I am a rack junkie)
• Costs less than comparable business-grade routers

Cons:

• More expensive than your consumer-grade wireless router
• Requires to use of a switch if 1Gbps wired LAN connections are desired/needed.  Switches are cheap these days, so this might be considered a “weak” con.

Some might say the lack of a wireless feature is also a con.  My answer to that is a router of this type may last much longer (features and security) then the next great wireless standard.  At that point, I would much rather replace my “Access Point” than the complete router.

Would I recommend the Syswan SW24?  It does what it is supposed to do.  It is more secure than a typical consumer router.  It is considerably cheaper than many of the more advanced/secure routers that are being sold.  It has dual WAN/load balancing capability for those who might want or need this kind of redundancy.  It contains a very robust and secure VPN feature set.

So, it really does not matter whether I recommend the Syswan SW24 VPN router.  It is a matter of whether you can justify the cost of this device (and the associated feature set) over the cost of a consumer-grade router.  The way I see it, you can never be too secure once you connect to the Internet.  If the information on your home network defines who you are, contains information that is private, or if you run a website on your WHS; you probably need a better solution than that $100 802.11n consumer-grade router.

Company: Syswan Technologies

Model Reviewed: Duolinks SW24 VPN

Cost: $249.99 | £211.00 including VAT