It’s fairly easy to get a Wi-Fi connection for your home, business, or office. In today’s enormously connected world, there are tons of Internet Service Providers to choose from. But a wireless network isn’t right for everyone. When it comes to connectivity and speed, nothing beats a wired router.
With a wired connection, you don’t need to worry about objects disrupting your speed. You can just plug in your device, and you’re good to go. But with a wireless connection, you need to keep your router away from places with multiple gadgets which could slow down your speed.
Also a wired router is a much safer option. It’s much easier for hackers to penetrate a wireless network. There’s only so much you can do to keep your network safe when you go wireless.
If what we just said interested you, and you would like to give a wired router a try, D-Link’s DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router would be a great way to get your foot in the door. D-Link’s DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router supports six VPN types. It also supports up to 25 simultaneous site-to-site or client-to-site IPSec connections with a max throughput of around 50Mbps.
In addition to those features, D-Link’s DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router is also equipped with Dynamic Web Content Filtering which enables the administrator to allow or block a device’s access to web sites.
Taking into consideration all that we’ve mentioned, it comes as no surprise that D-Link’s DSR-250 has developed a strong and steady reputation as a secure and high-performance networking solution that caters to the changing and growing needs of small and medium businesses.
The other features of the router also help to address the growing needs of small to medium businesses:
D-Link’s DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router provides access to off-site employees by simultaneously handling 1, 5, or 10 SSL VPN Tunnels and 5, 10, or 15 GRE Tunnels which provide workers with remote access to a central corporate repository.
But that’s not all. Go ahead and discover some of DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router’s premium features, pros and cons, and specifications in our comprehensive D-Link Review below. As a bonus, we’ve also included a simple, easy to understand and straightforward guide to help you with the set-up and installation of the product.
Why Choose D-Link DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router?
D-Link’s DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router provides a cost-effective multi-function network solution perfect for small and medium businesses. It is part of D-Link’s DSR router series, a feature-rich and reliable series of products designed and manufactured to address the growing needs of small to medium enterprises.
D-Link’s DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router is integrated with eight gigabit LAN Ports and one Gigabit WAN Port, which is interestingly where the router got its name- from its ports.
Going back to its long list of features, DSR-250 also contains a web content filter which helps the administrator to allow or block access to web sites. To add to that, some small, but equally useful router components are a USB 2.0 port for 3G Internet failover and file or printer sharing, a simple power light and a few activity lights.
Moving on to other big guns, developed with a comprehensive management solution, the DSR-250 includes other advanced capabilities such as an Integrated Firewall, Load Balancing, and WAN Failover giving users a flexible, reliable, and secure way to manage their network.
In terms of web authentication functionalities, DSR-250’s Captive Portal enables employees and guest clients to be easily authorized and authenticated by accessing customized landing pages.
Are you interested to explore DSR-250’s abundant features? You may check further below to know what makes this a feature-rich router for business needs.
Pros
8 Port LAN
Ability To Handle Several Users All At Once
Inexpensive
Numerous Premium Features
Numerous VPN Options
Robust Construction
USB File and Printer Sharing
Cons
GUI Needs Improvement
Incompatibility of the SSL Portal with IE 11 and Windows 7
Limited DHCP Range Settings
Requires Technical Knowledge for Advanced Installation
Unavailability of a 2nd WAN Port
Key Features
Robust VP
A completely effective and advanced VPN provides branch offices and remote workers with a secure connection to their network. DSR-250 also offers optimal network security with diverse technology and infrastructure through the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE), Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), Point-To-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), IP Security (IPSec), and Virtual Private Network tunnels.
D-Link Green Technology
Integrated with D-Link Green Ethernet, the DSR-250 saves power and helps reduce energy costs. It also comes with a D-Link Green WLAN Scheduler that turns off your wireless network automatically according to your pre-defined schedule. This feature also detects the length of cables connected to the DSR-250 and adjusts power usage accordingly to save energy without compromising performance.
Dynamic Web Content Filtering
Dynamic Web Content Filtering is an efficient and powerful feature that allows the administrator to approve or reject access to websites depending on the category they have been identified through an automatic classification system. This feature requires a minimum of administration configuration and has high accuracy. It requires a license subscription to avail of this feature, but a 3-month trial period is free of charge.
Limited Lifetime Warranty
The DSR-250 VPN Router is covered under D-Link’s Limited Lifetime Warranty to foster its dedication to product quality and long-term customer satisfaction and confidence.
Integrated Firewall
As part of its advanced features, DSR-250 is developed with a firewall feature that monitors and controls inbound and outbound Internet traffic in your network. It prevents unauthorized Internet users from accessing a private network, this is being done to prevent malware, spyware, and ransomware from compromising your system.
Other Features
Bandwidth Control
Dead Peer Detection
DES, 3DES, AES Encryption
DHCP Relay
DHCP Server/Client
Dynamic DNS
IGMP Proxy IGMP Snooping
Intrusion Prevention System
IPv6
Keyword Filtering
Main/Aggressive Negotiation
OpenVPN Protocol
Port Monitoring
SSID-To-VLAN Mapping
Static URL Address Filtering
USB 2.0 Port
WAN Traffic Failover
Web Authentication Capabilities
Specifications
| Ethernet Ports | 1 x 10/100/1000Mbps WAN; 8 x 10/100/1000Mbps LAN | ||
| Compliant Standards (Wired) | IEEE 802.3 10Base-T; IEEE 802.3 100Base-TX; IEEE 802.3 1000Base-T | ||
| Console | RJ-45 | ||
| Firewall Throughput | 750Mbps | ||
| VPN Throughput | 50Mbps | ||
| Concurrent Sessions | 20,000 | ||
| New Session | 200 per second | ||
| Firewall Policies | 200 | ||
| Static/Dynamic IP | Yes | ||
| PPTP/L2TP/PPPoE | Yes | ||
| Multiple PPPoE | Yes | ||
| Static Route | Yes | ||
| Dynamic DNS | Yes | ||
| Inter-VLAN Route | Yes | ||
| NAT, PAT | Yes | ||
| VLAN (Port-Based) | Yes | ||
| VPN Tunnels (Total) | 75 | ||
| IPSec Tunnels | 25 | ||
| SSL VPN Tunnels | 5 | ||
| PPTP/L2TP Clients | 25 | ||
| GRE | 10 | ||
| Maximum Bandwidth Control | Yes | ||
| Priority Bandwidth Control | Port-Based QoS, 3 Classes | ||
| Web-Based UI | Yes | ||
| Command Line | Yes | ||
| SNMP | V1; V2C; V3 | ||
| Power Supply | External Power Supply Unit DC 12V/1.5A | ||
| Max. Power Consumption | 11.8W/12.6W | ||
| Dimensions | Length: 5.51”; Width: 8.0”; Height: 1.38” |
How To Use
Think the D-Link 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router DSR-250 will be a good fit for your business needs?
Learn more about its features and current price here.
The 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router DSR-250 is recommended for home offices, small businesses of up to 10 employees, or small branch offices of big companies. With more and more businesses switching to the Internet nowadays, the DSR-250 router never fails to deliver its promise and commitment to deliver robust and high-speed Internet.
Once you’ve already bought this D-Link router, you may follow this clear and concise installation guide to get started:
- Connect your PC/workstation to any LAN Port on your DSR-250 router. Ensure that your computer is set to DHCP.
- Connect your modem to the WAN or WAN1 Port. It is suggested that you turn off or unplug the power of the modem during installation.
- Open a web browser and input the IP Address i.e. “http://192.168.10.1” of the DSR-250 router into the address bar
- If you are prompted with a Security Certificate Error, click Continue to this website (not recommended)
- Input your username and password on the login page. The default username and password is “admin”.
- Navigate to Network tab > WAN Settings
- Under WAN Setup, choose the type of Internet connection from the Connection Type Dropdown Menu. You may choose any of the following connection:- Dynamic IP (DHCP): The Internet IP is automatically configured.
– PPPoE (Username/Password): You are required to input a username and password to authenticate your ISP.
– Static IP: You are given a specific IP/Subnet/Default Gateway address to be manually inputted. - Click Save
- Your Internet service is now working. If you want a confirmation, you may click the Status tab > Device > Dedicated WAN. The IPv6 Address is displayed on the panel.
- Click the Wireless tab > Profiles
- Under Profile Name, right-click on the default profile
- Click Edit
- Configure your Wireless Settings:- SSID: Input a wireless network name
– Security: Choose the type of wireless security to utilize. It is recommended by D-Link to select WPA/WPA2
– WPA Password: Input a password for your wireless connection. You may have 8 to 63 characters as your password length. - Click Save
About D-Link
Founded in Taiwan in 1986, D-Link has grown to become a global organisation providing leading–edge networking technology that enables consumers and businesses to connect with information, to connect to resources, and to connect with one another.
D–Link’s drive to be at the forefront of the networking industry has led to the creation of a number of industry firsts such as the world’s first Ethernet switch with ISDN remote router in a stackable box. At present, D-Link’s wide range of products include smart home devices, IP cameras, Wi-Fi routers, and other innovative products. Products which allow customers to enjoy greater peace of mind and a meaningful virtual experience right in the comfort of their homes.
The award is the highest level of recognition for performance excellence that a company can receive. D-Link is certainly not lacking in that, the company received numerous recommendations and awards from around the world such as CNET’s Best of CES 2012, the Red Dot Design Award in 2013 and Electronic House’s Product of the Year back in 2013.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, the D-Link DSR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router offers a secure, high performance networking solution to address the growing needs of small offices and homes. Since it is designed for small offices, it can also be set up as your home network for you and your family.
When it comes to performance, we can’t say anything bad about it.The router works efficiently without any disruption even when several devices connect to the Internet at the same time. In terms of security functions, D-Link’s DR-250 8 Port Gigabit VPN Router is integrated with numerous VPN tunnels for maximum protection against cyber threats and online vulnerabilities.
Think this product will be perfect for your present or future business ventures? Would you like this product to be set up as your home network? What are your thoughts about this router’s features? Why don’t you share your thoughts with us via our Contact Us Page.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about other wired routers, feel free to check out other product reviews in other sections of your site.
