Thanks for all the comments. Based on what you have said and further
research, I have come to the conlusion...

1. I need to install openvpn on a machine on my lan and on my laptop.
2. I will follow these instructions for installation and configuration -
http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#quick
3. Just enable all the vpn options on my BEFSX41 and pray it all
connects...;)

fallback....purchase a cisco pix 501 and play with that.

Thanks!

Mark
On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 3:20 PM, Lisa Kachold <lisakachold@obnosis.com>wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> The BEFSX41's were not completely configured for anything but
> SITE<--->SITE VPN.  An IPSEC tunnel to tunnel can be setup evidently to
> work with a linux VPN client. where you have a static client IP address (no
> NAT), but you are correct, it's a bit of work.
>
> And there are some known issues:
> http://homecommunity.cisco.com/t5/Wired-Routers/VPN-works-causes-periodic-freezes-of-BEFSX41/m-p/227179?comm_cc=HSus&comm_lang=en#226944
>
> Version:
> Do you have BEFSX41 v1 or v2?  With the most recent firmware, the VPN page
> should look like this:
> http://ui.linksys.com/files/BEFSX41/1.52.5/Security-VPN-Tunnel-Enabled.htm
>
> Linksys QuickVPN software and cisco VPN client will not work for IPSEC or
> this router.  Linksys has instructions for setting up an IPSEC tunnel for
> the BEFSX41 (which is all it supports):
> http://homesupport.cisco.com/en-us/wireless/lbc/BEFSX41
>
> As you can see, you can, with this router, do passthrough and OpenVPN is
> so nice, easy and powerful, I recommend you just use it (rather than try to
> configure VPNs from this router) [simply check all three boxes on the
> BEFSX41 and save].
>
> OpenVPN Access Server (OpenVPN-AS) is a set of installation and
> configuration tools that simplify the rapid deployment of a VPN remote
> access solution. It is based on the popular OpenVPN open-source software,
> making the deployed VPN immediately compatible with OpenVPN client software
> across multiple user platforms.* *The server configurations options
> supported are a carefully selected subset of a quite large set of possible
> OpenVPN configurations. Thus, OpenVPN Access Server streamlines the
> configuration and management of an OpenVPN-based secure remote access
> deployment.
> You can get OpenVPNAS here (for Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOs and Redhat, as well
> as VirtualMachine images):
> http://openvpn.net/index.php/download/access-server-downloads.html
>
> To configure OpenVPN client in Linux:
> Simply surf to the port you setup for your OpenVPNAS server [usually
> 80/443] (be sure to port forward as needed) and login with the user name
> and password you setup and it will prompt you to download your client for
> Linux, OS X, or Windows.
>
> Client configuration instructions for  Sentinel  to BEFSX41: (useful for
> setting options in your linux client):
> http://www.homenethelp.com/vpn/router-config.asp
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>  On Jun 24, 2012 1:00 PM, "Mark Phillips" <mark@phillipsmarketing.biz>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I need to take my laptop on several road trips, and I need to connect
>>>> back to my home office LAN - all Debian machines. I am on COX cable with a
>>>> BEFSX41 router. The BEFSX41 has a VPN option that I have never used. What
>>>> do I need to add to my laptop (Debian) to talk to my home office LAN
>>>> securely (ie through a VPN) using my BEFSX41? Obviously, I am a complete
>>>> nube when it comes to setting up VPN access to my LAN. I have googled for
>>>> some recommendations, but I have not found a good reference to follow.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Mark
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>
>
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