Using a VPN with your BT Business Smart Hub 3
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions about using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) with your BT Business Smart Hub 3 router.
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Smart Hub 3 VPN capabilities
What types of VPN protocols does the Smart Hub 3 support, for example OpenVPN, IPsec, SSL VPN, or L2TP?
The Smart Hub 3 supports all protocols.
Does the Smart Hub 3 support both site-to-site and remote access VPN connections?
Yes, the router supports both types of connections.
What VPN encryption standards are supported by the Smart Hub 3?
The Smart Hub 3 supports all VPN encryption standards.
Does the Smart Hub 3 offer split tunnelling for VPN connections?
Yes, as long as the device is connected to the Smart Hub 3 and hasn’t got the VPN client active.
Does the Smart Hub 3 support setups with multiple routers using VPNs?
No, the Smart Hub 3 doesn’t support setups when multiple routers are using VPNs – for example, when the Smart Hub 3 is used with a VPN, and a third-party router is also providing a VPN.
Does the Smart Hub 3 provide user authentication and access control for VPN users?
No, as the Smart Hub 3 does not manage the VPNs. But this may be something that’s available through the VPN client or server.
Does the Smart Hub 3 support integration with external authentication services like LDAP or RADIUS for VPN access?
No, the Smart Hub 3 does not support integration with external authentication services.
Can the Smart Hub 3 establish connections with third-party VPN services or cloud-based VPN solutions?
Yes, as long as it’s set up correctly.
Does the Smart Hub 3 support dynamic routing protocols for VPN, such as OSPF or BGP?
Whilst the Smart Hub 3 itself does not support dynamic routing protocols, the BT network does which means you can use them.
Are there any VPN logging and monitoring capabilities available on the Smart Hub 3?
No, but this may be available through the VPN client or server.
Does the Smart Hub 3 have any built-in security features to protect VPN traffic, such as intrusion detection or prevention, or firewall capabilities?
No, as the Smart Hub 3 simply allows any VPN traffic that passes through it. This may be something that’s offered by the VPN client or server.
Are there any specific industry certifications or compliance standards that the Smart Hub 3 has to follow regarding VPN security?
No – anything to do with security should be handled by the VPN client and server.
Does the Smart Hub 3 offer any Quality of Service (QoS) features to prioritise VPN traffic over other network traffic?
No – the Smart Hub 3 views all VPN traffic as IP traffic, and does not treat it any differently to other traffic.
Can the Smart Hub 3 be configured and managed remotely? And are there any management APIs or integrations available?
The Smart Hub 3 has to be configured and managed on the local network. Therefore, you’d have to set up port forwarding rules in order to access it remotely from a device that’s not on the local network. There are no management APIs or integrations available.
Smart Hub 3 VPN performance
Does the Smart Hub 3 have any specific limitations on VPN performance metrics or throughput?
No, there are no specific limitations on VPN performance metrics or throughput.
Can the Smart Hub 3 handle VPN traffic for multiple offices or remote locations at the same time?
Yes, as long as the setup doesn’t involve multiple routers using VPNs.
Can the Smart Hub 3 handle an increasing number of VPN connections?
This is dependent on the broadband line – it can handle as many VPN connections as the broadband line can support. For example, it would be able to support ten 10Mb connections on a 1Gig broadband line.
Will the Smart Hub 3 provide automatic backup options for VPN connections if my broadband drops out?
Whilst the Smart Hub 3 itself doesn’t provide any backup options, if you have a 4G Hybrid Connect and your broadband drops out, any VPN connections will continue to work over the 4G connection provided.