Linksys BEFSX41 - Reviews

(2.5)

2 reviews

Info

Reviewbucket.co.uk scanned the internet for Linksys BEFSX41 reviews.
You can find all Linksys BEFSX41 reviews and ratings on this page.

Read the reviews.

Analysis

For Linksys BEFSX41, 2 customer reviews collected from 1 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 2.5.

Detailed seller stats;
Amazon has 2 customer reviews and the average score is 2.5. Go to this seller.

Detail

Click to list all products in this category.

Similar Items

4.12.2007

Having read some reviews, I went straight to the Linksys website and downloaded the latest firmware (available for both version 1 and 2 - mine is a version 2, being recent) and the firmware installation tool. Upgrade to July '07 firmware worked, first go.I then set the BEFSX41 up as the Internet router on my home LAN. This is very similar to any other Linksys box (like a WRT54G) in the menu structure. Saved settings and all worked well. Does not require a reboot or switch off, if you are familiar with the Windows IPCONFIG /RELEASE and IPCONFIG /RENEW commands (Google them, if not - it will save you time over the years.)My next step was to establish a VPN from the home LAN to the office.The VPN box at the office was already set up and working. I used the settings from the software client that was working on my laptop as a guide for the VPN settings in the BEFSX41. One small difference was the software made the first and second stages of establishing the VPN connection clearly distinct. In order to see them described in a similar way, use the Advanced option on the VPN tab in the BEFSX41. Once the obvious steps were followed, VPN established.Next added a WiFi Access Point (separate box, alas) to the BEFSX41 on one of the four LAN ports and so made the box visible across the wireless LAN for laptops at home.What we now have:All 5 PCs (some wired LAN, some wireless) at home have access to the Internet via the BEFSX41. All can connect (without additional software) to the LAN in the office, at a different site, through a secure IPSEC VPN, which opens the tunnel as needed, automatically and quickly. (If you are not sure what this is, you may not need it :-)This product "does what it says on the box". One star was deducted for the menu option for VPN, which was just slightly less obvious than it should be for the two stages of the connection (Linksys: please fix in the next firmware) and the lack of built-in wireless (WiFi) access (greedy, am I not!). My product arrived with a 13A UK-style plug.Recommended. Will buy another unit for other home-worker sites as the need arises. And at the price, it costs about the same or less that an IPSEC VPN software client for one PC!If you want to have VPN access TO the LAN *and* OUT OF the LAN at your location, (rather than just access OUT OF your LAN as described above) consider the Linksys RV042 or (for a few dollars more) the Cisco AS5505. (Sadly neither has wireless WiFi).(Declaration: I have no commercial or other connection with Linksys or related companies. I have worked with PCs in Dublin, Ireland for over 25 years. I wrote this as I thought some other reviews reflected a greatly different experience that should be counter-balanced by my experience.)