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 DSL Speed Tests
Ever wonder how fast your connection is? Are you really getting the 1.5Mbps that was promised to you? Me neither! The fact is, DSL is highly over subscribed. Oversubscription means that many people are pulling from the same resource. This results in slowdowns and it means you and I aren't getting the speed we signed up for. The best way to confirm this is through DSL Speed Test.
A DSL Speed Test is a great way to find out what kind of speed you're really getting. Is your connection really slow or is it just the fast that you're working with an old, slow, or over tasked computer? Simply find the DSL Speed Test by performing a search on Google and you'll quickly be on your way to finding out what you're really getting. You'll have to shut down your programs that are accessing the net and then perform the test which takes 30 seconds or so. It's very important to shut down programs accessing the net because these will impair the test and will cause your connection to appear slower than it actually is since some of it is being used.
When you find your speed is not what you signed up for you may want to try a few "tweaks". DSL Reports has a free downloads of DSL Tweaks that will allow you to modify your settings and some of your software to be faster on the net. What the DSL Speed Test will likely tell you, however is that you're not getting the speed you signed up for and unfortunately there's not much you can do about it. You can certainly call your provider and let them know you're not pleased but the reduction in speed can be caused by your distance from the CO or bad wiring in the area.
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Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
As the VPN market approaches maturity at a brisk pace, vendors have been forced to rethink the tradition identity of their IP Security-based technology for letting users securely access enterprise resources via the Internet. Most large companies in need of linking their offices together have done so on frame relay networks. Although frame is still a useful product many users have found that the reduced cost of VPN gives them an attractive alternative.
During the last 18 months, vendors have pushed VPN technology into different devices, have lessened the distinction between VPN and firewall products, and have demonstrated a strong willingness to deviate from standardized technology to meet corporate remote access requirements. VPN services now come bundled with many dedicated services and several service providers are using VPN products as a loss leader so they can sell circuits. When investigating the use of VPN products make sure you speak with a professional who can guide you through the strengths as well as the weaknesses of the product. While it is a cost reduced alternative to frame it is a different product and should be thoroughly researched.
One of the advantages of a VPN is that internet access is not based only on the hub and spoke layout. The users away from the hub are able to access the internet through their own connection rather than going through the hub and creating a bottleneck. Users will only need to connect through the hub if they need to access information from the central database. When researching alternatives such as VPN, like always, we recommend you consult with a professional and not just a salesman for a VPN company. Make sure the individual you speak with is unbiased and will give you the strengths and weaknesses of each product. We recommend one of the brokers at T1 price for unbiased recommendations of multiple carriers.
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