User guide

Chapter 1: Product Overview 25
Using the DSView Software with a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN is a secure private network that uses public infrastructure and typically includes several
wide area network (WAN) components which may impact performance of the VPN.
In a typical VPN setup, two sites are connected in a VPN network using WANs and a router. This
setup provides a secure network between the two sites, but processing is slow.
Figure 1.10: DSView System on a VPN
Several factors related to the network setup, including the DSView database replication schedule
and methods of device access, can affect the speed of a multi-site VPN network. The tradeoff must
be made based on the network setup.
Frequent replication of the DSView database will increase WAN/VPN traffic but provide steady
data reception at the local sites. Infrequent database replication made at the various sites decreases
the WAN/VPN traffic but delays the reception of changes at the local site.
In addition, the methods used to access devices affects network speed. VPN access of a managed
appliance is always slower than local access.
The DSView software supports two types of VPNs: those that provide full transparency for IP
addresses and ports between sites are supported by the DSView software as are many VPNs that
perform network address translation (NAT) between sites. For example, the VPN in Figure 1.10
could use NAT if Site A and Site B are separate companies that merged but have not resolved their
IP addresses. See the following section for more information on NAT.
Target Devices
Replication
Hub DSView
Server
DSView Client
Target Devices
Firewall
Site A
Site B
VPN
Spoke DSView
Server
DSView Client