09-23-04 02:32 PM
Boberto wrote:
> *Ok, please excuse my limited knowledge of VPN's while I attempt to
> explain this problem.*
>
> Here is the network setup:
>
> 1 Windows 2003 Server that supports 5 client machines. It is running
> WINS and DNS and *sigh* an application server (Quickbooks). Using
> 192.168.1.* IP scheme internally.
>
> 1 Netgear 16 Port 10/100 unmanaged Switch.
>
> 1 Watchguard Soho 6 Firewall/VPN combo. I have 5 "MUVPN" client
> licenses.
>
> 1 DSL Modem. Standard variety. NO static IP *sigh*, but the IP
> hasn't changed yet and I set up a DynDNS hostname to auto-update the
> firewall anytime the IP does change (feature of the Soho, pretty cool
> i thought) so that I can use Remote Desktop amongst other things.
>
> The physical setup is in the same order as listed above.
>
> The object of the game:
>
> Basically, I have one remote user. He does not have a desktop in the
> office, he uses a Tablet PC. I setup the VPN and the client without
> too much difficulty, and am able to connect almost immediately to the
> Soho from his tablet. I am able to ping around inside the LAN, and am
> able to map drives. The Tablet PC is using an AT&T wireless PCMCIA
> card through the AT&T cellular network, which I have reminded this
> user is going to be slower period. The user can finally see the
> contents of the mapped drive, i.e. Excel spreadsheets, etc. But once
> he tries to open them it locks up. You have to use Task manager to
> End Task on the process. I also had him try it from his home DSL
> connection instead of through the wireless service, and the same thing
> happens. The same thing happens when he tries to open up his local
> copy of Quickbooks on his Tablet then connect to the database on the
> server. It just locks up.
>
> Is this just me misusing the VPN? I have been told by a friend in the
> biz that you do not typically open applications remotely through a
> tunnel. The typical scenario in VPN use is for the user to establish
> the tunnel for security purposes, then initialize a remote session to
> another machine that is internally on the network you have connected
> to in order to run the processes of opening apps and files. Is this
> true? Am I just going to have to have this user purchase a desktop to
> use to connect to remotely, or turn the server into a Terminal Server
> as well for the best results?
>
> Please advise, and I thank you VPN guru's in advance for any help!!
>
> -RC
I'm sure that if you tried to copy that spreadsheet or quickbooks data
file from the server to the client you would understand the problem
better. There is no possible way I could imagine opening a quickbooks
data file over any cellular style connection even if it was the latest
3G speeds. You need at least a 1Mbit connection for something like
quickbooks. The computer is not actually locked up, it's just waiting
for data over the extremely slow link. The only practical method of
using quickbooks on this kind of setup is with remote desktop/terminal
server technologies.
In general your problem has nothing to do with VPN. It's just a slow
link.
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