whats another way to get users to access network shared drives when they are remote??

Try this:

http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ubuntu-one-free-online-storage.html

Hi,

You could use an Remote Desktop using redirected drives to a Terminal Server? Using Windows 2008, you have the option of a TS Gateway which provides you with a Pseudo VPN?

You could also consider options as Teamviewer, GotoMyPc etc?

Regards,


RobMobility.

Robmobility,

Can you elaborate on how it would work with redirected drives by Terminal Server??? and what the Psuudo VPN is??

Hi,

If they have mapped drives to the shares, if they configured re-directed drives (usually advanced properties of the RDP connection), then they would be able to open a remote file using a local application?

The Pseudo VPN is TS Gateway which is described in more detail here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731264(WS.10).aspx

Regards,


RobMobility.

Hi,

LogMeIn is another option to consider:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

Regards,


RobMobility.

Sorry for all the dumb questions but my last one (i think) is... these users all take there laptops with them. So its not like they have a desktop pc at the office that they need access to. They actually have there PC's with them but when they are in certain situation it seems that the VPN connection may be weak or blocked and it causes them to have problems with accessing there drives. I want to be able to eliminate the need of a VPN and give them another more robust way of accessing there drives. Maybe via a web interface or something like that..

Hi,

Have you considered an SSL VPN - this typically is less susceptible to the issues that prevent IPSEC VPNs working?

In many cases, they offer a web based interface which presents files as links on wweb page?

Whatever you do, you are trying to provide a secure link for these users and whatever you are usinjg, it's effectively some sort of VPN?

Regards,


RobMobility.

can you recommend any with the web page?

how about publishing folders for FTP access (e.g. in IIS)?

Hi,

I believe that SonicWall and Barracuda both offer such functionality?

Other SSL VPNs are just that - they allow access via explorer as if they were using another VPN?

There is a new Microsoft VPN called SSTP - it's essentially PPTP tunnelled inside SSL and Microsoft Uaser Access Gateway product or Windows 2008 R2 RRAS can hanle client connections.

Since it's SSL based, it's not affected in the same way as IPSEC would be.


Regards,


RobMobility.

Hi,

Can you be more specific about the issues you believe they will have with a VPN?

Regards,


RobMobility.

well when they are working wirelessly or even at some times hard wired it seems that the VPN will connect but access to there shared drives will fail. Im guessing this is due to a weak connection or restrictions on the network they are connected to.

I would love to have something that is web based that they can use to access there drives so that I can eliminate the whole VPN aspect.

Hi,

How about something like this which is a plug-in to Outlook Web Access - it allows you to access fileshares from OWA thereby using the existing SSL tunnel used for OWA?

Do you have OWA accessible externally via SSL?

http://www.everywherenetworks.net/owa-outlook-web-access.php

Regards,


RobMobility.