Accessing VPN Participants
Once a VPN is established, accessing computers and network resources across the VPN can be achieved just as if you were on the local network using Windows explorer.
Note
Each remote Node who joins the VPN, can be configured to allow the creation of tunnels between themselves and other remote Nodes (Set in VPN to Join configuration). This setting will determine whether VPN Participants on the network of the remote Node will be accessible to other remote Nodes (and their networks) when they are joined to the VPN.
Using Windows explorer from a VPN Participant machine
If you are on a machine that is configured to be a VPN Participant, then you can access other VPN Participants across the VPN as their machines appear under their respective Workgroup/Domain entries in My Network Places in the Windows operating system.
You can test access to a particular machine by using an IP address UNC path:
- Open Run from the Start menu in Windows.
- Type in "\\LAN IP address" of the target VPN Participant machine you wish to access (e.g. \\192.168.6.6)
- This should open that machine and display whatever shared resources it has made available.
Note
Remember that access to network resources across the VPN is controlled by Windows security. The WinGate VPN merely passes traffic around the VPN and does not alter it in any way.
When accessing a VPN Participant machine, Windows will prompt you for a correct user name and password to access the machine. If you are accessing resources from a computer where you are logged in with valid user name and password details that can be used for the target machine, then Windows will use these credentials automatically without prompting for user name / password details (As is the case for ordinary Windows networking security).
Browsing
For the Windows browsing services to operate efficiently, the machines acting as Master and backup browsers must be able to communicate with the VPN Node on each network to provide lists of network resources available to VPN Participants.
Since network topologies and types can vary, if resource access seems problematic due to shares not appearing or difficulty in access to specific machines, then please refer to the list of Common VPN issues listed in the Troubleshooting section.
