Question about setting up a really small simple VPN

Author	All Replies
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	Question about setting up a really small simple VPN I've browsed around the forum only to find that most if not all of the solutions involve an extremely complex scenarios of three locations all running 10 computers and the like, and while that¡¦s all good and fine for those who need that kinda thing, it sort of blurs out the (really very, very) basic info I¡¦m trying to find. I¡¦m going to list the hardware in place, followed by the needs of my boss, and hopefully one of you fine people will be able to advise me of the simplest and most straightforward way to do this. Location 1: Small business network of about 8 PCs all running XP Pro: There is no Server, and all PC¡¦s connect into a Netgear FVS318, which in turn, connects into a Belkin F5D7230-4 router, which is connected to the net, via a Motorola SB5120 surfboard cable modem. Location 2: One single PC running Win XP Pro (currently not networked) connected to the net via a 2wire 1700HG/1701HG DSL modem (From Yahoo/SBC) Requirements. All PC¡¦s at Location 1 are running QuickBooks 2005 software. The QuickBooks software file itself, is ¡¥shared¡¦ on the network, and it is setup to for multiple users. If we want to connect via another PC at location 1, to the QB file, all is fine. We simply need the PC at location 2, to be able to do the exact same thing. From what I have gathered so far, the easiest way to do this would be to upgrade to QuickBooks 2006 but at a cost of roughly $400.00 per PC, that solution isn¡¦t really viable. That¡¦s why I'm looking at how to implement a VPN so as the PC at location 2, joins the network at Location 1, and can then access the files needed in the same way as if they were at location 1¡K Hopefully someone can explain the simple way to achieve this ƒº PLEASE NOTE: I am not a total newb, when it comes to PCs and firewalls etc... But I am when it comes to VPN as this is my first, so any reply¡¦s needn¡¦t be designed for reading and understanding by a total newbie... If I just get told the general method that you advise, I¡¦m fairly sure that I can go off and find my own way from there.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-29 03:46:16 ·
SoonerAl Old Enough To Know Better Premium,MVM join:2002-07-23 Norman, OK 1 edit	Well, the Netgear FVS318 is a VPN end-point type router so you can purchase the client software from Netgear and away you go... »www.netgear.com/products/details/FVS318.php »www.netgear.com/products/details···N05L.php FVS318 Support... »kbserver.netgear.com/products/FVS318v3.asp How to Connect NETGEAR VPN Client Software to FVS318 or FVM318 Routers... »kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_file···1436.asp Now with your current configuration you would need to forward ports through the Belkin to the Netgear router. Personally I would change that and make the Netgear router the front-end to the internet so you can connect to the built-in VPN server directly without having to mess with opening ports on the Belkin device. Others, I am sure, will have different suggestions and ideas... -- "When all else fails, read the instructions..."
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-29 06:22:39 ·
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	Thanks for the reply. I'll do as you suggest then. Shame I have to wait for delivery from the website of the software though. Apperars I cant download it !
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-29 08:51:59 ·
SoonerAl Old Enough To Know Better Premium,MVM join:2002-07-23 Norman, OK	said by BillBogus : Thanks for the reply. I'll do as you suggest then. Shame I have to wait for delivery from the website of the software though. Apperars I cant download it ! Perhaps there is an authorized reseller near you. If so you might be able to purchase the product tomorrow after the holiday... »www.netgear.com/buy/resellers_sy···ders.php Good luck... -- "When all else fails, read the instructions..."
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-29 09:25:42 ·
JimPletcher Premium join:2004-04-05 Enola, PA	reply to BillBogus QuickBooks over VPN can be p-a-i-n-f-u-l-l-y slow, even over a 768k upload connection. Unless you have fast upload speeds at both locations, you'll be MUCH happier with the "remote" PC running Remote Desktop to access shared files. You'll still want to use a VPN of course, but QuickBooks over VPN with Remote Desktop is at least tolerable.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-29 10:08:14 ·
A8codr join:2004-05-30 Lakewood, OH	reply to BillBogus I also recommend a solution like JimPletcher has suggested, and use Remote Desktop, or PC AnyWhere, Etc. If the Quickbooks company file is of any size at all, it'll be excruciatingly slow. A good read on the topic being discussed here before can be found »[VPN] Creating a simple VPN with BEFSX41 here, and »Creating a simple VPN with BEFSX41 here. I also find it hard to believe that the upgrade cost for Quickbooks is $400.00 per PC. Typically add on CAL's for QB are approx $400,00 or less per 5 CAL's. Another thing to keep in mind is that the CAL's are not tied to individual PC. That means if you have 10 PC's with Quickbooks installed using a 5 CAL version. If only 5 PC will be logged into Quickbooks at any given time. You have all the CAL's you'll need. You can have as many users setup as necessary, even if it's 50, as long as only up to 5 are using it at any given time. You also don't need to buy another complete Quickbooks program package to add additional users to it. You simply buy additional CAL's. I found this on Intuit's web site with regard to pricing for Quickbooks Pro 2006 »quickbooks.intuit.com/product/ac···re.jhtml here, where a 5 user license is $699.95. If all you need is additional client licenses you might want to call the phone number at the top right of the page.
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-30 02:30:20 ·
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	Hi A8codr As you seem to be a lot more knowledgeable than me regarding QuickBooks, see if I am on the right track. Here’s what we are trying to achieve. Are we going about it correctly, or are we going to need to rethink things? The PC that will be holding the file in question is the accounts PC. Its running qb pro, premier edition 2005 and POS version 4. The pc also has QuickBooks manufacturing and wholesale edition, 2005. That is the file that we are discussing. Now the guy at location 2 will not be using the file 24/7 infact he may only use it for just a couple of minutes, 3 or four times a day, if that... The file itself is really small, as is brand new. I originally set it up, with a shortcut to an internet server, using web folders with the idea that location 2 could just pull the file off of the server, work on it, then pop it back up afterwards, but the accountant doesn’t like that idea... what if we both work on it at the same time, or he forgets to put it up? Well considering that the guy at the other location is a reasonably intelligent man, and she’s only actually in herself working, maybe once or twice a week, I cant see it being a big trouble for anyone, but they want it set up so as its accessed 'invisibly' and the (unlikely) concept of both hitting it at the same time, not being a problem... So, if I get the VPN client tomorrow, set up the VPN and then go from there ? Is that likely to be OK, or can you foresee a problem with that scenario ? Finally, I’ve never used Remote Desktop, but I have used PC ANYWHERE and GOTO MY PC... However, when I used them, my usage 'Took over" the remote PC, and that’s going to be more than just a slight inconvenience, if the accountants in the middle of her stuff, and all of a sudden all control of the PC is taken away from her as Location 2 decides to access the file... Or am I missing something ? Thanks for your help
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-30 08:33:59 ·
SoonerAl Old Enough To Know Better Premium,MVM join:2002-07-23 Norman, OK	Remote Desktop behaves the same, ie. the remote session may take over the local session and lock out the local user... Here is the definitive article on that from Microsoft... »support.microsoft.com/kb/280828/en-us -- "When all else fails, read the instructions..."
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-30 10:03:19 ·
A8codr join:2004-05-30 Lakewood, OH	reply to BillBogus Let's first start with these questions. 1. Is the Quickbooks that needs to be shared a Multi-User version? 2. Do you have any PC's at location 1 that will not be in use when location 2 needs to access the Quickbooks? If you can answer YES to both. You might consider using a remote access program on the idle PC at location 1. If as you say the QB file is small as it's new. You could use VPN to access it. The limitting factor will be the upload speed at location 1. Just remember that if you answer NO to #1. You'll never be able to have more than 1 user in Quickbooks at any given time, unless they each have a different Quickbooks Install Number. The PID number usually located on the orange sticker. A good resource for QB question is their forum Quickbooks Forums here. This post Multiple users in Quickbooks, addresses multiple users with different install numbers. Again if you answered NO to #1. You can NOT download, or upload the QB company data file while it is opened for use by a user. *That includes the accountant. You do NOT want to download and upload the data file from location 2, if there's a chance that location 1 might make changes in the interum, as those changes WILL BE LOST. If there's a chance that changes/updates will be made to the company file by more than one user. Both users must be using the local QB company file*
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-30 10:13:18 ·
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	Thanks for the reply. Yes, the manufacturing and retail 2005 premium IS multi user, and as for a 'idle' PC, the answers no, not for certain. Infact, the most idle PC is actually the one I was planning to use… The accountants... You see, the only people who are going to be using this file, are the guy at location 2, and the accountant herself. As I said, the amount of usage from location 2 is minimal. The accountant only comes in once, maybe twice a week. The only exception to the above, id that VERY occasionally, i.e. hardly ever, another person in the office may need to open the file and to print out a check or similar... I'm beginning to wonder if it would make more sense to just use remote desktop the other way around so as it’s the accountant accessing it via remote desktop when needed… Thsnks in advance
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-30 14:02:32 ·
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	reply to SoonerAl Thanks, but do you think Microsoft cpuld make it a little bit more confusing ? I almost understood a couple of the words... LOL Thanks though, I'll look again with my 'work hat' firm;y on
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-05-30 14:04:17 ·
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	Well, I thought that I may as well update, if only so as to make this post more useful for someone else who comes here, looking for the same kinda info, or finds themselves in my position, at some point in the future... Well, I bought the 'official' VPN Client from netgear, and it arrived today, and as suggested by SoonerAl, I have re connected things making the netgear the 'front end'... Anyway, I'm off to go play... I'll update you on my progress (Or lack of) a lil bit later
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-06-02 01:22:51 ·
BillBogus join:2004-01-04 Thousand Oaks, CA	First STUPID question (Middle of the night I know...) But... Does the Client software, get installed on the accountas PC, AND on the PC at location 2, or is it ONLY on the PC at location 2? If its only at Location 2, then how do I tell 'it' (it = The Tunnel) exactly where abouts on the accountants PC the actual file is located ? Sorry if Im a dumb ass, but yah gotta learn some where
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-06-02 02:52:42 ·
SoonerAl Old Enough To Know Better Premium,MVM join:2002-07-23 Norman, OK	reply to BillBogus Install the VPN client on the remote PC. Once you get the connection up and running see if you can ping the accountants PC. If so you should be able to use the form \\IP.address\SharedFolderName to access the accountants PC. You also may be able to address by PC name... Example: \\192.168.1.25\SharedFolderName \\AccountPCName\SharedFolderName Check the users manual or guide that comes with the software or the Netgear support pages for help also. I have never used that combination so hopefully someone else can chime in and help further... Good luck... -- "When all else fails, read the instructions..."
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-06-02 08:45:50 ·
DocLarge Premium join:2004-09-08	reply to BillBogus Hey y'all... Hope you don't mind 'ole Doc joining the party for a moment. I've been a closet Netgear DG834G V2 user for about 6 months (on and off). I "love" this little router because for some reason, even if I'm running vpn tunnels, I can "still" use quickvpn to connect to a remote WRV54G; I can't do that with any of my other routers, so it has a special place with me.... Anyway, here's a link from the netgear forum that illstrates how to configure the ProSafe Client: »forum1.netgear.com/support/viewt···?t=24054 I'm guessing it might help, but we'll know better if you try it Doc
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-06-02 18:26:02 ·
SoonerAl Old Enough To Know Better Premium,MVM join:2002-07-23 Norman, OK	Excellent link... That should get him going...
	to forum · permalink · · 2006-06-03 07:27:10 ·


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