Does anyone use a VPN ?

By this I don't mean a secure connection to your trading platform that is perhaps located close to an exchange(like Speedy Trading Servers). I mean anyone with a locally based platform in their own office but using a VPN to connect to their broker ?

If so :

1. why do you use it ? (what are the supposed benefits)
2. any performance hit ?
3. anyone using it while using "shared" internet (err.... starbucks (?) .. or a co-located office?)
4. What would be a good way to evaluate a VPN provider?
p

Hi there Yes I do have a VPN that I use to access my machines from virtually anywhere in the world.
in fact, I have a server at home that is on 24/7 and connected to the internet through my Luxembourgish high speed ADSL subscription.
I have the VMware vSphere installed on that server and with several virtual machines running at the same time.
I have a gateway in Linux, a VPN server, a Proxy and DNS all configured to my liking plus a backup server too, all in VMs. Then I have external disks and printer/scanner attached to physically to that server and shared of course between all the VMs.
Then I also have several virtual machines running mac OSX, windows XP, windows 7 and also one running Ubuntu Desktop 13.04.

What I usually do is that I configure my laptops, iPads, and client desktops with a remote desktop access (through the VPN) to any of these VMs that are on the server; and whenever I am home and/or abroad, in a hotel, in a remote location (business or holidays, etc...) all I have to do is connect with remote desktop application to the VM of my choice.
The quality of the internet connection from my remote location to my home office in Luxembourg is not as important since I only pass few data through that connection to satisfy basic remote desktop needs in terms of keyboard, mouse, and display commands.

So no matter the quality of that connection (to a certain logical limit of course) I can still benefitn for my trading in this instance, from the solid high speed ADSL that I have in Luxembourg, and the processing power of my server at home.

It is very important though to understand that with a VPN, the upload speed becomes very important, many retail ISP do offer high download speeds, but only limited upload speeds. This is very critical, as the overall speed of your VPN will be determined by your upload limit and not the download one.

So if you subscribe to an ADSL package for example, make sure you are provided with good upload speeds, that is very important for your satisfaction with your VPN.

Fadi 

Hi there Yes I do have a VPN that I use to access my machines from virtually anywhere in the world. in fact, I have a server at home that is on 24/7 and connected to the internet through my Luxembourgish high speed ADSL subscription. I have the VMware vSphere installed on that server and with several virtual machines running at the same time. I have a gateway in Linux, a VPN server, a Proxy and DNS all configured to my liking plus a backup server too, all in VMs. Then I have external disks and printer/scanner attached to physically to that server and shared of course between all the VMs. Then I also have several virtual machines running mac OSX, windows XP, windows 7 and also one running Ubuntu Desktop 13.04. What I usually do is that I configure my laptops, iPads, and client desktops with a remote desktop access (through the VPN) to any of these VMs that are on the server; and whenever I am home and/or abroad, in a hotel, in a remote location (business or holidays, etc...) all I have to do is connect with remote desktop application to the VM of my choice. The quality of the internet connection from my remote location to my home office in Luxembourg is not as important since I only pass few data through that connection to satisfy basic remote desktop needs in terms of keyboard, mouse, and display commands. So no matter the quality of that connection (to a certain logical limit of course) I can still benefitn for my trading in this instance, from the solid high speed ADSL that I have in Luxembourg, and the processing power of my server at home. It is very important though to understand that with a VPN, the upload speed becomes very important, many retail ISP do offer high download speeds, but only limited upload speeds. This is very critical, as the overall speed of your VPN will be determined by your upload limit and not the download one. So if you subscribe to an ADSL package for example, make sure you are provided with good upload speeds, that is very important for your satisfaction with your VPN.

Fadi,

Thanks Man! I see what you are doing.

This is not exactly what I was thinking, although I see the value.

- You focus on the VPN to allow access to your platform when you are on the road !

Consider this a good answer but I won't tick the "ANSWER" button just yet ... I'd like to hear if anyone is doing it for security reasons or using it on a laptop when on the road or whatever.

p

podski 

Fadi, Thanks Man! I see what you are doing. This is not exactly what I was thinking, although I see the value. - You focus on the VPN to allow access to your platform when you are on the road ! Consider this a good answer but I won't tick the "ANSWER" button just yet ... I'd like to hear if anyone is doing it for security reasons or using it on a laptop when on the road or whatever. p

No worry man for the answer button part but what kind of security reasons are you referring to if I may ask?
And I am also using it on a laptop when away from home - from a hotel wifi connection for example, my parents appartment, etc... and also iPad over 4G network

I have used a VPN service for a few things ..

1. Watch Hulu in the US, the BBC in the UK

2. Get over ISP bandwith limitation on some sites. For instance in France some ISPs have limited traffic towards Youtube or Google due to peering conflicts. Using a VPN changes traffic routes and allows to enjoy a good youtube experience.

3. Tunnel a full TCP/IP channel over https, if you're only allowed to do http stuff on you connection, using a web proxy. Using an OpenVPN VPN, you can tunnel a full protocol TCP/IP interface over the https proxy, so you can access POP, SMTP , telnet whatever.

I use StrongVPN service, they have PPTP and OpenVPN servers in a lot of locations, you can change location a few times per month, never had a problem .

Bandwith is OK, I got 4.6 MBps download over my plain DSL, and 4.5 MBps using the VPN.

Pretty sure there are a lot of other good providers as well.

Hope it helped.

Using VPN make sense if:
- you want to be like you were on a "remote" network, not your usual network (so easily access to a bunch of servers like @Fadi)
- you are communicating with a single remote server with a not very secure protocol (FTP for example).
Then it make sense, as the speed difference in using a VPN is not a big deal.
If the goal is to access a single server, with a secure protocol (ssh, RDP with NLA), then the advantages are not obvious...

I recently subscribed to the VPN called ExpressVpn. When I put it on it affects my connection with NinjaTrader 8 and Forex.com. NT will disconnect and then connect a few seconds later, doing this periodicially or just remaining disconnected. I have contacted Ninjatrader but they will not help me and just repeat to go talk to the ISP. Has anyone else had problems with a VPN interfering with their trading programs?

I use google cloud console. They offer a free 1yr trial (or 300 dollar credit/whichever comes first)
I use it to save on electricity costs. It's very secure by design.

Sent using the NexusFi mobile app

jodistrict 

I recently subscribed to the VPN called ExpressVpn. When I put it on it affects my connection with NinjaTrader 8 and Forex.com. NT will disconnect and then connect a few seconds later, doing this periodicially or just remaining disconnected. I have contacted Ninjatrader but they will not help me and just repeat to go talk to the ISP. Has anyone else had problems with a VPN interfering with their trading programs?

Are you still having this problem? what did you do?