vpn when connected

[homer15]

hey everyone,

my friend just go a laptop for his business, and he wants to be able to connect to his office network when he's mobile. his isp supplied him with a free dial up account so he can connect to the net when he's in a hotel or something. he asked me how he could setup a vpn connection to his office when connecting to his isp. i told him that i think he has to talk to his isp to have them make the tunnel for him, then whenever he remotely connects, he'll be able to connect through the tunnel. am i wrong? is there a way he can connect to his vpn when already connected to his isp? he doesn't want to have to deal with his isp (very bad phone support).

[ThePoor]

go to control panel-->Network and dial up connection-->make a new connection-->Dial up to a private network-->follow prompt...

[homer15]

he did that. i was even there helping him. all it does is help him establish a connection with his isp, not create a vpn connection to his network.

[doctorgonzo]

What version of Windows is on the laptop? I'm no expert at VPNs, but I don't think his ISP needs to be involved at all. I think he needs to have two connections on his laptop: the ISP connection for regular 'net service, and then the VPN connection that will run through the ISP connection.

[homer15]

he has windows xp.
i'm not an expert on vpn's either, but i think for him to try to connect through his isp, they need to get involved somehow. but like i said, i'm probably wrong.

[doctorgonzo]

Originally Posted by homer15 he has windows xp.

Good, because that's the guide I found : http://compnetworking.about.com/od/v...nwindowsxp.htm

[mbossman2]

doc is right....

there are a few types of VPN.

the "traditional" type: software on PC, takes care of the tunnel set up and tear down and encryption. Device at the other end that "catches" the tunnel and decrypts. this type can be done via any type of internet connection and is the most common (least expensive)

The ISP type of VPN: the ISP provides a 'special' user name and login for the user. As soon as they login, the session is transferred to a "secure" section of the network, all the tunnel set up and encryption is handled by the ISP. The advantages of this is that there is little or no management of devices required, the ISP takes care of all that.

Website VPN - this is growing in popularity. Log into a website, the browser sets up an SSL session and off you go (still requires an end device for encryption etc). the advantage of this is that you are not tied to a specific machine or ISP.

For your buddy, he will need some sort of VPN client (like the one in XP or provided by a third party), the office presumably has a VPN device, a login and password (for authentication) for the VPN/network.

[homer15]

thanks guys, i'll see him tonight and i'll try to get it setup.

[glc]

The easiest way to connect to the office involves a monthly fee - www.gotomypc.com

[homer15]

that's pretty much like pcanywhere, right? he wants to be able to travel with his laptop and not rely on another computer onsite to be turned on.

[glc]

It's exactly like PCAnywhere, but does not require any ports be opened in a firewall. You install a small app on the host and it runs as a service, logged into the GoToMyPC secure website. You surf to GoToMyPC on the remote, log into your account, and you have a remote desktop just like PCAnywhere in your browser. All info uses SSL. 20 bucks a month or 180 bucks a year.

[DragonNOA1]

Another thought is that a lot of ppl with dial-up modems connect via a RAS server located at the business. If the business has that you may try that way also.

[glc]

RAS will cost you a long distance phone call though, might as well just use PCAnywhere modem to modem if you are going to do that.

[homer15]

ok, he got the client software for his vpn. it's not acting like any vpn i've ever worked with.
it's a sonicwall and he's using the global vpn client v. 1.0.0.9.
once is isp connection is enabled, he opens the sonicwall client and it connects, but he can't find anything on the network. i think i'm missing a step someplace. can anyone help?

[mbossman2]

has the firewall been configured with the proper permissions for his user name?

[homer15]

yes, his username is setup.

fyi:
his firewall actually has two vpn's setup:
a point-to-point from his house to his business, and a group vpn which is where his mobile access would fall into. his point-to-point is working fine.

[It_Boyz]

How do you turn on the option to setup up computer on a RIS SErVER is there such a way.By the way is anyone hiring.

[mbossman2]

follow the VPN setup Wizard on p10 in the manual

set for remote access.

[homer15]

he has it setup just like that says, and when he activates the sonicwall client for the vpn connection, it says connected, but it won't let him do anything from a network standpoint. i attached a picture to show exactly what i'm seeing on his machine.