We have two offices. One computer at one office needs to be able to access files on one computer in the other office in real time. Both run Windows 10. Someone told me about OpenVPN and that it seemed to him like it would fit my needs perfectly. Can anyone help me figure out what exactly I need? Looking at my options, both Access Server and OpenVPN Cloud seem like they could work. Would there be any issue setting up a Windows machine as an access server to connect to via the OpenVPN client connector?
Thank you for any insights you can offer!
Need help determining my OpenVPN needs
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dirak
- OpenVpn Newbie
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- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2022 5:09 pm
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openvpn_inc
- OpenVPN Inc.
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Re: Need help determining my OpenVPN needs
Hello dirak,
OpenVPN Access Server could work here, but it needs to run on a Linux OS. Normally in a business environment there is already a server running or a device capable of running virtual machines, and you can then run a Linux OS on it with Access Server on it, and use that to get VPN access. But if you're only dealing with a total of 2 computers that need to exchange some files, perhaps this is all a bit overkill. Also you would need to deal with port forwarding and such to allow computers from outside the network to VPN in to the Access Server. For most system admins this shouldn't be a big challenge but just looking at what your described needs are, I feel like probably OpenVPN Cloud is more suited to your needs.
With OpenVPN Cloud you register on our site for the free OpenVPN Cloud account and set up 2 users. You connect your two Windows computers to OpenVPN Cloud with those 2 user accounts. Now they are on a private network in OpenVPN Cloud and can contact each other in that network. Then you can set up for example file sharing on one of the computers that has files the other computer needs, and then access that fileshare via the VPN IP. Usually \\100.10.1.0\ in Windows Explorer will do the trick then (replace that IP with whatever VPN IP the Windows computer has in OpenVPN Cloud obviously). You may need to tweak Windows Firewall as well to allow access.
Kind regards,
Johan
OpenVPN Access Server could work here, but it needs to run on a Linux OS. Normally in a business environment there is already a server running or a device capable of running virtual machines, and you can then run a Linux OS on it with Access Server on it, and use that to get VPN access. But if you're only dealing with a total of 2 computers that need to exchange some files, perhaps this is all a bit overkill. Also you would need to deal with port forwarding and such to allow computers from outside the network to VPN in to the Access Server. For most system admins this shouldn't be a big challenge but just looking at what your described needs are, I feel like probably OpenVPN Cloud is more suited to your needs.
With OpenVPN Cloud you register on our site for the free OpenVPN Cloud account and set up 2 users. You connect your two Windows computers to OpenVPN Cloud with those 2 user accounts. Now they are on a private network in OpenVPN Cloud and can contact each other in that network. Then you can set up for example file sharing on one of the computers that has files the other computer needs, and then access that fileshare via the VPN IP. Usually \\100.10.1.0\ in Windows Explorer will do the trick then (replace that IP with whatever VPN IP the Windows computer has in OpenVPN Cloud obviously). You may need to tweak Windows Firewall as well to allow access.
Kind regards,
Johan
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dirak
- OpenVpn Newbie
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- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2022 5:09 pm
Re: Need help determining my OpenVPN needs
Thank you very much Johan! This sounds like it will fit my needs perfectly.