Vidali ConsultingInformation Technology solutions

I recently had to set up a VPN for a client who needed to access files from home that were locally shared at work. Setting up a VPN for a non-power user and getting it through Windows Firewall software and multiple cable modem firewalls is not an easy feat. That’s where Hamachi comes in.

Hamachi is great for quick setups and P2P encryption. Created by the folks that run LogMeIn, Hamachi lets you create mini private networks that use unique IPs from a IPv4 unassigned namespace. This is pretty unorthodox, but until some international organization steps in and attempts regulation, there’s a fast free way to get a unique, static IP for free. Hamachi uses this IP to track the various networks in its own server, even though the actual file sharing connection is P2P.

The client installs in a few minutes and can run on Windows, Linux, or OS X, so your VPN network can easily be cross-platform. It’s hands down the simplest, fastest way to set up a VPN out there, though the IP namespace may not be available forever. Did I mention that personal use is free, and commercial use is $5 a month? It’s certainly not an enterprise solution, but for small businesses it’s the way to go, and makes working from home possible. But don’t just take my word for it–read their security whitepaper to get an idea of how their system works before you decide that it’s best for you.

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Internet access isn’t what it used to be, thankfully. Even cumbersome and slow public WiFi hotspots are readily available in many places, but are being replaced or augmented by paid WiFi aggregator services like Boingo and Fon. If you’ve ever wanted to share your connection but have been wary because of security concerns, then ZoneCD is for you.

ZoneCD is a great piece of free software which enables a PC to become a dedicated wireless internet sharing router. It’s actually a boot CD which allows the host PC to remain secure as an internet access point paired up to a WiFi antenna for transmission. Cafes, parks, restaurants, schools, and community spaces can securely share their internet connections with a variety of options. You can display a TOS upon every login session, require login authentication, prioritize traffic, block ports and filesharing, and provide an awesome service for free with little hassle. I’ve been using it for over a year, and the code base is stable, only requiring a reboot a few times a year when used 24/7. Highly recommended for anyone looking to provide free WiFi service for customers or clients.

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Setting up a one or two person business to sell online often seems like a daunting task to people. It really shouldn’t be, as there are lots of micro e-commerce solutions available, allowing for low cost of entry and quick setup. Here’s a brief rundown of what’s out there.

E-junkie – E-junkie is the somewhat unfortunately named service that provides a Flash-based shopping cart for a low monthly fee. You can sell digital content, process through Paypal, and host images on their site. The interface is fast and clean, but does require Flash Player, which may be a hindrance to older computers or inexperienced users.

Foxycart – Foxycart is a PHP/AJAX solution that fully supports standards-compliant XHTML and CSS for $15 a month. What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s a bit too much to go into here, but your web designer will love it. Use your own payments gateway, and use an existing non-eCommerce website to just add a line of code to each link you want to turn into a product. It’s a stripped down, clean looking cart that lets power users spend time on designing what they know instead of being pushed into the limits of antiquated and non-standard shopping cart code.

BigCartel – BigCartel provides quick, good looking web stores, mostly for tee shirt companies and boutiques. The ease of use for the catalog and the speed of setup is really hard to beat. I think of it as a mini Shopify.

Etsy – Etsy is an online community and mini shopping destination for handcrafted goods. If you knit, make clothing or stationery, do art or photography, you can make a nice store that is also interactive in a more personal way. There are no monthly fees and listing fees are low, but you have to pay them a percentage of sale on top of transaction fees.

Mintd – Mintd is another hybrid social networking-meets-shopping site based in Australia that has a unique interface to buying and selling that is either going be unusable, or really awesome, depending on your point of view! Worth a look to think outside the box of what is possible.

PayPal – PayPal is the elephant in the room, used for everything from eBay to buying things off of forums. What most people don’t know is that a free business account allows you to set up a free shopping cart with Buy Now links that link directly into your account. While limited, the best part is that there’s no monthly fees, only the standard PayPal transaction fees. If you have a low volume store, or just want to experiment with a few items and options, you can do it with no financial risk or commitment.

That rounds out the contenders for today. Remember, finding a web store solution for your small business doesn’t have to hard or expensive!

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