The software is downloadable here access to centralized network management as well as topologies beyond the standard mesh requires creating a LogMeIn account, but you can register a free one for Hamachi without being a subscriber to one of the company’s myriad other services. (We tested it with a mix of XP, Vista, and Windows 7 clients.) While Hamachi 1.0 included Mac and Linux - albeit command line only-versions, Hamachi 2 is Windows only, at least for the time being. Hamachi 2 is compatible with all versions of Windows from 2000 through Windows 7, including Windows Server 200x. Hamachi 2, the first major update to the software, retains most of the the characteristics that made the original so popular while offering an enhancements like a refreshed user interface, additional network topology options, and the ability to create and manage networks remotely.

Pros: simple setup, new network topologies and centralized management, free for non-commercial useĬons: Windows only commercial version much pricier than predecessorĮver since it debuted as a beta over three years ago, Hamachi (subsequently purchased by LogMeIn) has provided a quick, easy, and usually free way to set up secure VPN connections between distant systems without any special hardware or much in the way of firewall/NAT-related configuration hassles. Price: Free for non-commercial use, $199 annually for commercial use

Steep cost download free