By Ki Grinsing

What makes TP-Link TD-W8960N Adsl2 wireless N router different with TD-W8961ND and other ADSL2 wireless modem routers?

Overview

TP-Link TD-W8960N (henceforth I shall call Tplink 8960 to abbreviate it) is a combination of ADSL modem, 4-port switch, router and wireless N300access point. The appearance of the current generation is much more attractive and looks sweeter than when first released. Oval shape and is like chewing gum in a large form, with a smooth edge look so charming. With a dark blue surface and with a mosaic looks very pretty filling your desk space at home or your small office.

TP-Link TD-W8960N highlights

• Speeds up to 300Mbps, single 2.4GHz band
• 4x LAN Ethernet ports
• suitable for high bandwidth applications including online gaming and HD video streaming
• Easy client connection with QSS button (WPS)
• Support up to 10 IPSec VPN secure tunneling

Tplink 8960 Vs 8961nd

TP-Link has two similar ADSL wireless N300 routers: TD-W8960N and TD-W8961nd. At a glance they look similar but there is one significant difference between the two as shown in the following table. Tplink 8960 supports up to 10 IPSec VPN secure tunneling, but the TD-W8961ND doesn’t. Many other ADSL wireless routers don’t support native VPN but they support VPN pass-through only.

High speed N300

Powered by the latest wireless 802.11n technology with 2x3dBi external Omni-directional antennas, both routers can deliver the speed up to 300Mbps single band 2.4GHz. If you have a lot of wireless clients that work on the 5GHz band, it is less useful gateway on your network. You better choose the Netgear Dgnd3700 that supports simultaneous dual band, but do not have a native VPN features.

For client computers that are not equipped with a wifi adapter except NIC adapters, connect directly to the gateway using UTP cable. You can connect up to 4 PCs with Cat5e UTP cable.

All-in-one devices

All standard router security in general are supported by both gateways including DHCP server support for the management of IP address to the client automatically. Router, 4-port switch, wireless N300 access point and ADSL modem packed in one compact device, easy to manage and look sweet in your room. Both Tplink 8960 and 8961nd are really all-in-one devices for all the requirements to build a wireless network in homes or small offices. Instead of building a wifi network using separate modem and router, for example an ADSL modem plus standard Belkin wireless N150 router, using all-in-one device is preference and easier.

Table Tplink 8960 Vs 8961nd

IPSec VPN

As mentioned above, the Tplink 8960 supports true IPSec VPN secure tunneling to let you create site-to-site remote connections. You can add/remove or enable/disable the IPSec remote tunnel connections from the configuration menu, choose advanced setup and then select IPSec.

Typical topology with VPN

As a configuration example the network topology as shown in the figure 1 diagram of two sites with each uses Tplink 8960 with different network segment.

Site A configuration:

1. Router IP address: 192.168.1.1 subnet mask 255.255.255.0
2. WAN public IP address: 202.134.10.247

Site B configuration:

1. Router IP address: 192.168.2.1 subnet mask 255.255.255.0
2. WAN public IP address: 202.134.10.246

Note that the WAN port must use a static IP address, do not use dynamic address from the ISP unless the address will change dynamically. Take a look at the following VPN tunneling diagram between two tplink routers.

In the IPSec configuration menu, configure the IP address settings for both sites. From site A configure the following fields:

• IPSec connection name: vpn-site-a (you can add vpn-site-b in site B)
• Remote IPSec gateway address: 202.134.10.246 (public IP address of site B)
• Tunnel access from local IP addresses select “Subnet”
• IP address for VPN: 192.168.1.1 subnet mask 255.255.255.0 (the TD-W8960N IP address in site A)
• Tunnel access for remote IP address: select Subnet
• IP Address for VPN: 192.168.2.1 subnet mask 255.255.255.0 (the TD-W8960N IP address in site B)

And then you also need configuring the security settings including Key exchange method; authentication method; and pre-shared key. You should also perform the same settings in site B with different IP address pointing to the site A.

Note that the VPN Servers endpoint from both ends must use the same pre-shared keys and Perfect Forward Secrecy settings.

With the IPSec VPN connections, both sites will connect each other via the internet as if they were connecting locally.

Both TP-Link TD-W8960N and TD-W8961ND are Wireless N300 routers with built-in ADSL2/2+ modem – single device for all requirements to build WLAN in homes or small offices.

TD-W8968 300Mbps Wireless N USB ADSL2+ Modem Router

TP-link is shipping a new ADSL2 modem router, coming soon with the USB port available. The good thing is that the USB port allows you to host an external disk drive or a printer and is supporting the FTP server and media server too. This modem is beneficial for your work and play environment in home.

Highlights:

• It’s all you need for ADSL modem, four-port switch (10/100Mbps), and wireless N300 access point
• Single 2.4GHz band with speeds up to 300Mbps and is 802.11b/g/n compliant
• USB Port for Storage Sharing, Printer Sharing, FTP Server and Media Server
• Ethernet WAN (EWAN) offers another broadband connectivity option for connecting to Cable, VDSL or Fiber modems
• IP QoS features for improved bandwidth control across the network

This modem is like other new ADSL modem routers (such as Linksys X3000 or Netgear DGND3700) which include one WAN port for Cable modem connectivity besides RJ-11 ADSL line port. But these ports are neither for redundant links nor fail-over – failback links.

By Ki Grinsing