Strange dongle and VPN issues

[w1z4rd]

So this is a funny one. A client of mine has some kinda strange design software on their network. With this software comes a dongle. If you are on the LAN with the dongle, all the users with this software installed can use their software. If you are not on the network the software goes into demo mode.

In theory, if we create a VPN network we should be able to use the software from a remote site when connected to the VPN as the remote laptop is on the "lan".

Apparently this system works... except for my client.

The client connects to the VPN okay, gets given the right IP.. and can browse all the resources on that network.. but the silly software doesnt work.

Perhaps its the VPN type? What do you think could be causing problems here?

 

[Gambit]

Perhaps this network dongle doesn't use tcp/ip and has it's own protocol that runs over ethernet which is likely if the dongle doesn't have an IP address and if you don't need to give the software an IP address of the dongle. If that is the case then a normal vpn won't work as these normally work exclusively with tcp/ip and udp. You should maybe look at ethernet bridging with openvpn or eoip tunnels.

http://www.openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/miscellaneous/76-ethernet-bridging.html

 

[YeaNutz]

Mmmmm I will be monitoring this thread closely as I have the same issue as you.
I use a dongle that authenticates my system onto the Swift network.
If I remote into my machine its as if the USB dongle has been disconnected and can’t be seen by the system.
Yet everything seems fine.

I’ve tried remote desktop with the /admin and /console commands and still the same thing, it’s as if the system knows you are not physically on the machine and for security reasons disables the hardware layer to the USB device.

…………let us know how you resolve the issue if you do