My machine is OpenSuSe version 12.3 and I need this machine to be connected with VPN service (appreciate if someone advise me for free VPN service or almost free), so it will be connected automatically once the machine booted, and then I need to be able to reach for my machine remotely using VPN. Is there something like this?
If yes, what is the VPN client to be installed at the machine and the VPN server that I can connect to it? And what is the client that I have to install it at my Windows 8 laptop to be able to connect to the VPN server to reach my machine?
Although I can’t suggest a service (except maybe Tor) that can function as a VPN gateway (if you really need it),
You may need to describe why you need a VPN and if there are any special requirements.
A “normal” VPN can be setup by installing and running VPN server software of your choice on your openSUSE and then using a client app or setup on the remote machine to connect to your openSUSE. Note that for this to happen, the remote client needs to be able to find your openSUSE from across the Internet, so unless you own a fixed Public IP address you’ll need to setup a Dynamic DNS service which will know how to find your openSUSE and provide that information to the remote machine.
Also, if your openSUSE is behind a NAT router, then you will also need to configure inbound forwarding through the router to your openSUSE.
If you don’t have any special requirements, then this basic configuration should be enough for your remote machine to create a VPN connection to your openSUSE.
But, if you have special requirements like someone trying to block connections then you will need to connect through a Proxy. A Proxy will accept your VPN connection (because it won’t be on a block list) and then either forward or establish a new connection to your openSUSE.
Various paid or free services can provide at least part of the solution, but it all depends on <why> you need to set up a VPN in the first place.
but it all depends on <why> you need to set up a VPN in the first place.
The answer is: this machine will be used in different locations for Demo and it will be hard to keep configuring on each location the DDNS and the port forwarding … So it will be important to be able to reach for this machine whatever it is located. That is why I need it to be connected with VPN gateway and being able to reach for this machine regardless of its location and the network that it is connected through it.
eg Your “server” is being moved around. What about the other end of your VPN? Is that moving around also? If not, then maybe you should consider reversing the direction of your VPN tunnel.
Also, I don’t know why your demo requires a VPN. A VPN has many features, eg placing all Hosts on the same network so they are easily discoverable, encrypting connections for sensitive data, authenticating, more.
But, maybe your demo doesn’t need all of that, maybe its networking can be designed for “normal” Internet hosts using ordinary Internet protocols (maybe encrypted) instead of tunneling, and sometimes SSL is easier to setup than PPTP, L2TP or other VPNs (or whatever you have in mind). Even OpenVPN is based on http.
So, you may need to read up on these different options, and then based on your Demo requirements formulate your solution.
I need to reach for the demo server to do maintenance or configuration modification whenever it is needed. Yes the other end is my laptop which is mobile from place to place and from Internet Service Provider to Internet Service Provider (and not only my laptop, it is also another engineer laptop). Actually, the real static IP address is not available.
Why we need this VPN?
If the demo machine is connected to VPN Server, then my laptop can establish connection to the VPN Server and then it can reaches to the demo machine, right? If not, then no need for VPN But, if it is not possible to use the VPN for the reachability, I would like to know why “as I am assuming that VPN should be able to do this”.
Thanks for the help and kindly advise.
Regards
Bilal
On 03/01/2014 03:56 PM, bghayad pecked at the keyboard and wrote:
> I need to reach for the demo server to do maintenance or configuration
> modification whenever it is needed. Yes the other end is my laptop which
> is mobile from place to place and from Internet Service Provider to
> Internet Service Provider (and not only my laptop, it is also another
> engineer laptop). Actually, the real static IP address is not available.
>
> Why we need this VPN?
>
> If the demo machine is connected to VPN Server, then my laptop can
> establish connection to the VPN Server and then it can reaches to the
> demo machine, right? If not, then no need for VPN But, if it is not
> possible to use the VPN for the reachability, I would like to know why
> “as I am assuming that VPN should be able to do this”.
>
> Thanks for the help and kindly advise.
> Regards
> Bilal
>
>
How do you connect to the VPN server, what software?
It depends on the VPN Server which is I am looking for it, so it should provide the VPN client at linux machine (which is the OpenSuSe machine “The Demo”) and at the Windows which is my Laptop.
On 03/02/2014 12:36 AM, bghayad pecked at the keyboard and wrote:
> It depends on the VPN Server which is I am looking for it, so it should
> provide the VPN client at linux machine (which is the OpenSuSe machine
> “The Demo”) and at the Windows which is my Laptop.
>
> Any help?
> Regards
> Bilal
>
>
Look, you told us that the “Demo” machine is connected to the “VPN
Server” machine which means you need to connect to the “VPN server”
machine /before/ you can connect to the “Demo”.
It sounds like you do not understand what VPN is all about. Perhaps
reading this link will help:
Do you know teamviewer?
I need same thing as teamviewer but to be secure and to work with Linux OpenSuSe and Windows (from my windows laptop, I need to access the OpenSuSe machine).
As I suspected, your Demo Server is not moving around from site to site, it sounds like it’s in your office.
You therefor need to install and configure the “server” side of the VPN in your office. It won’t likely change IP address often, even if it’s using a DHCP address.
The “client” side of the VPN installs in the laptop you carry with you from remote site to remote site.
Everything else in my previous post applies… And it won’t make any difference what VPN technology you use except that the protocol needs to not be blocked at any firewall (including your remote sites).
Here is a hint:
Since Firewall ports can be an issue with VPNs, when I create “traveling demos” I always try to do 2 things…
Carry my own Internet connection with me. This is a lot easier nowadays when smartphones can support “hot spots” or be configured as a modem with 4G speeds.
Some demos can be deployed as Web Apps using ordinary http/https protocols. If you can do this, then no special ports need to be opened in firewalls, and if you really want to, Client authentication and authorization can be implemented (ie. login required to access demo).
In other words, a VPN is practically the last thing I would want to rely on when I don’t have absolute control of all the networks involved.
But, if it is not possible to use the VPN for the reachability, I would like to know why “as I am assuming that VPN should be able to do this”.