VPN

[shafia2009]

Hi can any one help me we have recenetly got link2 ICT to set VPN aces for teacher, we are able to connect to the VPN through the cisco interface but how do we access our files and folders that are on the server, all i get is VPN is connected so how do i access by files after that?

[m25man]

Can you Ping anything on your LAN when the VPN is UP?

 

The VPN process is only half of the job. Name resolution and all of the associated protocols passing through from VPN Zone to LAN Zone are also required.

This information should be provided to your remote clients via the VPN Client software.

The chances are your client is authenticated but either no routing information is being offered or the DNS information provided to them is inadequate for them to resolve anything on your LAN.

 

Also if your clients are not domain members either you will have authentication issues when trying to access files and folders on the LAN as there is no security context to work with.

 

Hence why a properly set up and configured Portal/VLE/Website is almost compulsory regardless of VPN existence or not!

 

A Remote Access Solution is exactly that, it allows Remote Access. VPN's are for Nerds like us that need to access every corner of the network from anywhere and know what to do when it doesnt work.

I think VPN's for Lamers is a bad move and could end up costing you your network when you have allowed a teachers infested Home network direct and unfettered access to your school LAN!

 

We have always used SSL VPN Services with Captive Portals allowing those that can be trusted a full VPN Tunnel into the network whilst others have their VPN Sessions terminated on the appliance with a menu system that offers them Home Folder Access or Terminal Server/RDP access to their own PC's.

 

New methods such as Microsoft Direct Access and IP6 Teredo Tunnelling will change the way we do this in the future but in the short term the people that set this up for you need to guide you through whatever it is that either they or you have missed!

[Michael]

It's quite simple really. Create a script to map network drives as follows:

 

@ECHO OFF
net use K: \\SERVER1\SHARE1 /USER:DOMAIN\USERNAME PASSWORD
net use O: \\SERVER1\SHARE2
net use Q: \\SERVER1\SHARE3
net use R: \\SERVER2\SHARE1 /USER:DOMAIN\USERNAME PASSWORD
net use S: \\SERVER2\SHARE2
net use T: \\SERVER2\SHARE3
net use u: \\SERVER2\SHARE4
net use Y: \\SERVER2\SHARE5
net use H: \\SERVER1\USERNAME$

 

You can also connect to a workstation (with a static IP) with Remote Desktop. Just enter the IP address 10.x.x.x into the 'Computer' field.

 

Edit: You can also map printers, either locally \\Servername\Printer Sharename or if the computer is a member of the domain, you can search for network printers and print over VPN.

Edited July 2, 2011 by Michael