NON-Java based VPN Solution

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MallAudio

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Master Geek

Topic # 29818 20-Jan-2009 15:37

Hi...

We have recently changed some of our software to a similar Java based product... however, our current VPN solution is also Java-based and it hasnt got the resources to support both programs (they both fault and drop away)

Does anyone know of any reliable VPN software that isnt JAVA Based?

Reccomendations would be greatly appreciated!

(not too keen on using web=based servers either)

freitasm

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Reply # 190899 20-Jan-2009 20:31

Have you looked at Hamachi? I use Hamachi to connect our servers, home PCs and everything works really well.

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ajobbins

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Reply # 190901 20-Jan-2009 20:49

Perhaps you could give us some background about what exactly you will be using it for and what resources you currently have available?

MallAudio

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Master Geek

Reply # 191005 21-Jan-2009 11:16

in the time since our VPN dropped off (VPN-X) we have been using Logmein Free Version, firing our files to a web based email and then going through I.E. to download etc...

What we want is to be able to Drag and Drop files between our office and our remote sites...

Have investigated HAMACHI, but the licensing costs for us would be phenomenal (approx US$35 per site per year and we have 50+ sites)

Also looked into Fog Creek Co-Pilot and a few others, but the ongoing annual costs are to much to justify when we can buy an unlimited licence for something like VPN-X for a one time cost of say $1000...

And we already have a dedicated VPN server that is currently being used as a rather expensive paperweight...

Between the 4 of us, we would spend 100hrs+ on sites downloading and maintaining each week...
If we keep the server and VPN network in house, our software developer is sure he can sort it out so that our server automatically pushes our files out to site say 4-5 times a day or as needed (would save us the hassle of dialling in/connecting and manually downloading ad's etc and putting them where they need to be (which is rather time consuming))

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zaptor

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Reply # 191045 21-Jan-2009 13:29

If you've got a software developer of your own, shouldn't you be leaving this problem with him/her?

Just curious

MallAudio

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Master Geek

Reply # 191047 21-Jan-2009 13:39

We only contracted him to design our new software, isint actually a full time employee... Although he's a genius at writing java applications and creating algorithms, Finding the actual VPN application and then applying it and converting our network etc is not his job...
(he just create the application to automatically push everything across into the files they need to go in etc)

ajobbins

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Reply # 191055 21-Jan-2009 14:15

Hamachi is a very good piece of software.

I am surprised, being that you say your business has over 50 sites, that you are unwilling to pay $35 per site licence.

For an organisation of that size, surely that is a drop in the bucket?

MallAudio

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Master Geek

Reply # 191069 21-Jan-2009 15:01

HA! Although we have over 50 'sites' we are a small home based business.. US$1750 @$35 a site is a lot of money! and we'd have to pay that every year...

As opposed to a one time payment of around $1000 (roughly what we paid for VPN-X)

All we want is a VPN based out of our office, that isint a Java based Application, and doesnt require ongoing/annual licensing..

ajobbins

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Reply # 191072 21-Jan-2009 15:13

Can you clarify what you mean by 50 'sites'?

zaptor

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Reply # 191081 21-Jan-2009 15:48

Are you after some kind of online document sharing facility? (no, I'm not going to recommend Google Docs)

If so, what types of documents are you trying to share?

MallAudio

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Master Geek

Reply # 191090 21-Jan-2009 16:27

When i use the term 'sites' i am refering to PC's at remote locations around the country that we have to dial in to and upload audio files (ad's) for retailers...

Dont want to use an online sharing facility... there is no screen, mouse, keyboard etc on our 'site' pcs, and no-one sitting there controlling them (usually locked away in a dark cupboard or in an audiostack with amps etc)

Clients don't have access, so a simply sharing program like mediafire etc is not suitable...

We control all our site pcs from Christchurch, where we write and produce ad's etc for clients, then we have to upload them remotely... has to be a secure VPN, as we are tunneling through our clients networks etc and can't expose them to security risks/threats

VPN is the only solution that has been put to us so far (keeping in mind we DONT want web based solution)

If anyone has any other ideas of how to do this securly without paying ongoing license fees, minimal setup/configuration (as will have to be done remotely via LOGMEIN) then we're open to ideas/suggestions...

Doesnt have to be a VPN solution if there are other options... thats just what we have used historically.. we know it works... we know its stable etc...

Used to use OPEN VPN-GUI as our VPN and PcAnywhere as our remote desktop, with VNC Viewer as a backdoor...

ajobbins

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Reply # 191092 21-Jan-2009 16:29

What about SFTP then?

MallAudio

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Master Geek

Reply # 191098 21-Jan-2009 16:41

keep in mind, ive only been working with PC's for approx 18 months now so the only knowledge i have is what i have taught myself...

I understand SFTP is secure file transfer protocol?... do you use that in conjunction with a remote desktop program?? or is it a stand alone program?

Given me something to investigate anyway...
I think that may have been what the developer was referring to when we were discussing the possibility of making the site downloading etc automated...

Not sure why we moved away from VPN-GUI in the first place... know anything about that program???

ajobbins

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Reply # 191121 21-Jan-2009 18:49

Do you need remote desktop functionality or just file transfer?

MallAudio

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Master Geek

Reply # 191225 22-Jan-2009 10:14

Both... file transfer and remote desktop...
Need to be able to manipulate schedules etc on site, change sound levels, change start/end dates on advertising etc...