VPN SETUP

[BattleVPN]

How do you setup VPN thru Vodacom's internetvpn APN? Using Microsoft XP as 'server' and Vista Ultimate as client. 0n server side is 3g Linksys router and 3g usb dongle on client side. VPN allready enabled by vodacom.

 

[lenniejoel]

Vodacom Hassles

How do you setup VPN thru Vodacom's internetvpn APN? Using Microsoft XP as 'server' and Vista Ultimate as client. 0n server side is 3g Linksys router and 3g usb dongle on client side. VPN allready enabled by vodacom.

May as well give up on vodacom. Hard as it may sound, going back to telkom

 

[stoke]

The VPN APN is a setting that allows all incoming (from the internet) traffic to your network, if I understood correctly. If you use the AccessPointName VPN, you are expected to have a good firewall protecting you.

The default APN only allows traffic that you initiate to return back to you, well, a little more complicated than that .

But, you are now using the VPN APN, so now you create your own VPN as you would on any TCPIP network.

So, what VPN software are you running?

 

[morkhans]

May as well give up on vodacom. Hard as it may sound, going back to telkom

So rather than coming back for help in the original thread you started you'll just have a random whine here?

VPN over Vodacom does work and works really well. Best advice is sign up for the unrestricted APN if you intend to run a VPN server on the 3G network. Otherwise if you are connecting from 3G to a VPN hosted on DSL or some other leased line service the default internet APN will be fine.

 

[morkhans]

The VPN APN is a setting that allows all incoming (from the internet) traffic to your network, if I understood correctly. If you use the AccessPointName VPN, you are expected to have a good firewall protecting you.

The default APN only allows traffic that you initiate to return back to you, well, a little more complicated than that .

But, you are now using the VPN APN, so now you create your own VPN as you would on any TCPIP network.

So, what VPN software are you running?

Ok just to clear up some facts. There are 3 APNs on Vodacom. internet, internetvpn and unrestricted. Since the changes to the internet APN to remove NAT the internetvpn APN has been collapsed onto the internet APN, so in essence they are now the same. Thus you should use internet APN if you were using the internetvpn APN.

On the internet APN unsolicited inbound connections are blocked, but (as has recently come to my attention) some VPN ports have been opened up for inbound connections. Thus if you are using a VPN client to connect to the office which is on DSL or some other leased line then all you need is the internet APN (default).

If you intend to host a VPN server on the 3G network the best advice is to apply for the unrestricted APN which will allow unsolicited inbound connections. It is also advisable that you have a decent firewal in place if you intend to use the unrestricted APN as you will be open to port scans and other probes (like on DSL).

 

[vodacom3g]

Ok just to clear up some facts. There are 3 APNs on Vodacom. internet, internetvpn and unrestricted. Since the changes to the internet APN to remove NAT the internetvpn APN has been collapsed onto the internet APN, so in essence they are now the same. Thus you should use internet APN if you were using the internetvpn APN.

On the internet APN unsolicited inbound connections are blocked, but (as has recently come to my attention) some VPN ports have been opened up for inbound connections. Thus if you are using a VPN client to connect to the office which is on DSL or some other leased line then all you need is the internet APN (default).

If you intend to host a VPN server on the 3G network the best advice is to apply for the unrestricted APN which will allow unsolicited inbound connections. It is also advisable that you have a decent firewal in place if you intend to use the unrestricted APN as you will be open to port scans and other probes (like on DSL).

100%, thanks for the well written post.

 

[Squonk]

Setting up remote access on Linksys 3G router

Hi, hope this is a suitable thread to ask my question. I am trying to setup a remote access application via a Linksys WRT54G3G router. I need to access this router via the internet to access a PLC (Programmable logic controller) on the lan connected to the router. The PLC uses the open Modbus port 502. I also would like to use remote desktop software (PCAnywhere or similar) to access a SCADA PC on the remote LAN.

I have tried setting up DynDNS but the router disconnects everytime I try to save the DynDNS info. When I reconnect the IP address from Vodacom has changed so I end up chasing my tail. I am using the default APN (internet?) on a Vodacom Prepaid SIM. Do I have to use the 'unrestricted' APN and do I need special VPN software (like LogMeIn or similar) to achieve the remote access to the router?

 

[morkhans]

Hi, hope this is a suitable thread to ask my question. I am trying to setup a remote access application via a Linksys WRT54G3G router. I need to access this router via the internet to access a PLC (Programmable logic controller) on the lan connected to the router. The PLC uses the open Modbus port 502. I also would like to use remote desktop software (PCAnywhere or similar) to access a SCADA PC on the remote LAN.

I have tried setting up DynDNS but the router disconnects everytime I try to save the DynDNS info. When I reconnect the IP address from Vodacom has changed so I end up chasing my tail. I am using the default APN (internet?) on a Vodacom Prepaid SIM. Do I have to use the 'unrestricted' APN and do I need special VPN software (like LogMeIn or similar) to achieve the remote access to the router?

From the sounds of things you need to apply for the unrestricted APN.

It might be easier to configure the DynDNS settings when connected via a Ethernet cable. The linksys loves resetting the wifi and 3g connection at the same time whenever you change things. You should then be able to forward any ports you want to devices inside your network.

 

[vodacom3g]

From the sounds of things you need to apply for the unrestricted APN.

It might be easier to configure the DynDNS settings when connected via a Ethernet cable. The linksys loves resetting the wifi and 3g connection at the same time whenever you change things. You should then be able to forward any ports you want to devices inside your network.

A few extra points:

1) DynDNS on the LinkSys works very well and is stable. I've been using it in this configuration for quite a while.

2) Set the router up to auto-connect, so it will re-connect if the connection drops.

3) Set the router up for the unrestricted APN.

4) Set up port mapping for your protocols.

5) Set the default gateway on the nodes you're trying to reach on the Ethernet network behind the router to point to the LAN IP of the router.

This last point is most important and if you don't do this the PLC and PC's won't know how to respond to incoming requests. (I personally believe this is a faulty implementation of the NATing on the Linksys, but this is how it works at present.)

 

[Squonk]

A few extra points:

1) DynDNS on the LinkSys works very well and is stable. I've been using it in this configuration for quite a while.

2) Set the router up to auto-connect, so it will re-connect if the connection drops.

3) Set the router up for the unrestricted APN.

4) Set up port mapping for your protocols.

5) Set the default gateway on the nodes you're trying to reach on the Ethernet network behind the router to point to the LAN IP of the router.

This last point is most important and if you don't do this the PLC and PC's won't know how to respond to incoming requests. (I personally believe this is a faulty implementation of the NATing on the Linksys, but this is how it works at present.)

Thanks for the advice.I will try it out soonest. I am still waiting for the Unrestricted APN activation from Vodacom.