Cisco RV042 4-Port Fast Ethernet Dual WAN VPN Router

Product Review

Product Features

• Load Balancing Router: The router features 1 dedicated WAN port as well as a port that can be used for DMZ or for adding a 2nd WAN Internet connection. Utilizing 2 simultaneous Internet connections allows the router to perform load balancing, which helps to optimize network traffic
• Integrated Firewall: The router features a powerful firewall to help protect your computer against malicious attacks that often target computers connected to the Internet, giving you peace of mind while you are connected to the web
• IPSec VPN Tunneling: The router works as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) gateway, allowing for up to 50 simultaneous VPN tunnels. IPSec security features many advanced technologies such as DES and 3DES encryption as well as MD5 and SHA authentication to help protect your network
• DMZ Port: The router features a DMZ port that allows you to connect a computer directly to the Internet, bypassing the integrated firewall. This allows advanced users to connect a computer on their network in order to work with applications that a firewall may interfere

Accessories

• Cisco-Linksys WRT600N Linksys Ultra RangePlus Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link
• Level One WAP-0004 54 Mbps Pocket Ap Router
• D-Link DIR-635 RangeBooster N 650 Router
• Belkin R6G088-R-10 10Pack RJ45 Modular Connector Kit For 10BT Patch Cables
• Cisco RV082 8-port 10/100 VPN Router - Dual WAN

Customer Reviews

 (2 customer reviews)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Low Initial Cost But May Be Prone to Early Failure, March 31, 2009

Stephen R. Uriarte "Patents" (Silicon Valley) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco RV042 4-Port Fast Ethernet Dual WAN VPN Router (Personal Computers)

I have purchased five Linksys/Cisco VPN routers in the last five years. Two "RV042"s, Two "BEFSX41"s, and one RVL200. (Yes, I have (maybe now "had") a preference for the Linksys/Cisco brand.) But out of these five VPN routers, both of the RV042s have failed (blinking diag light) within about 16 months from the date of purchase.

When not in failure mode, the RV042 is a cost effective router and I have paired them together or have mixed and matched with the BEFSX41, RVL200 and a Sonicwall VPN router (don't know the model since I was connecting to a third-party administered site) with good results. It also has a large feature set for the price (DHCP w/ MAC mapping, 5 IPsec VPNs, VLAN support, etc...) and since the last firmware upgrade, it has not been buggy (unlike in 2006, which was two firmware upgrade versions earlier). It is, however, prone to early failure based on my experience and other user comments/reviews. One reviewer here has stated the Blinking Diag Light of...Read more

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Fairly interoperable with more expensive VPN routers, good value, April 24, 2008

Harlan (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco RV042 4-Port Fast Ethernet Dual WAN VPN Router (Personal Computers)

I used this model for several years, with Cisco, SonicWall, and NetGear equipment on the other end of the tunnels. It's always a bit of a process getting VPN tunnels across multiple vendors, but I was always able to manage in the end. Another feature which distinguishes this model is the presence of two WAN ports, and being able to use the second in a variety of ways: you could use the second one as a DMZ, as a hot backup connection to the internet, round-robin between two connections to the internet, or route particular protocols across specific connections.