VPN File Transfer Speeds

[archedraft]

Question on why VPN file transfer speeds are pretty slow. I like to backup my important files offsite from time to time. I have noticed that I get around 500Kb/sec. Both networks have 30Mb Down and 4Mb Up.

My first vpn was with PPTP using a Linksys E3000 with tomatoes firmware. Results (550-600Kb/sec).

Next I setup an OpenVPN server with the E3000. Results (470Kb/sec).

Then for fun I brought my work laptop home and connected to my works vpn which is L2TP/IPSec. Results (500Kb/sec).

Any thoughts on how I might get better speeds?

 

[archedraft]

Or does anyone have an offsite vpn they backup data to and can tell me what transfer speeds they typically get?

 

[stevech]

It'll vary by how good the VPN server is, what kind of tunneling you have, if it's encrypted, etc.

Most enterprise systems have a VPN server box which can be overloaded with traffic at times.

 

[CaptainSTX]

VPN Speed

Most routers do not have the processor speed and RAM necessary to encrypt VPN files on the fly without significantly slowing down their through put.

I get 95% through put using an E3000 running Sabai Technology's dual gateway VPN software. To get this through put I have added Sabai's VPN accelerator to the network. It appears to be a mini FoxConn PC with with an Atom Processor and two gigs of RAM. Without the Accelerator the best the E3000 could do is 60%.

Another option for speedy VPN processing is to re-purpose a PC as a router by loading DD-WRT on it.

One other suggestion is forget using PPTP VPNs as the security has been compromised. PPTP is OK for getting around geo blocking but not much else.

 

[archedraft]

I have stopped using the pptp and have replaced it with OpenVPN. So if you're saying I should be seeing 60% then 60% of 4 Mbytes upload would be around 2 mb/sec right? If so then with is that reduced to 500 kB/sec?

EDIT: my 500 kB/sec is referring to transferring files to a relatives house using there VPN on the E3000. My "Internet test speed" results show 2.3 Mbps which is 60%. I guess transferring files with a VPN has extra speed loss?

EDIT 2: google says: 2.3 Mbps = 294.4 kilobytes / second (I guess since I am getting 500 I shouldn't complain)...