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Remote access to intranet

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by tomjedrz

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Folks-

We have a bunch of laptops, and want them to be able to access by name the intranet that we are introducing later this month.

They get access to the internal network via a VPN, and are not using internal name resolution. We are a NetWare 5.1 shop.

Many thanks!
Tom Jedrzejewicz

Any suggestions?

5 replies

by srespd

Well, I believe the only solution is to use internal name resolution, otherwise they won't be able to connect. It would make it easier on you in the long run.

by tomjedrz

I am with you so far. How does this work in situations when the computer is not connected to the internal network? For instance, when they are in a hotel room and on the internet without the VPN connected.

by srespd

Well, the computers that you are connecting to, lets say from a hotel room on the internet, the DNS server from the ISP (because you would be connected via internet through one of these) handles all the DNS resoultions. When you type www.yahoo.com - this is the DNS name for the ip address of this site. A bit confusing. So rather than you remembering the IP of yahoo, it does it for you via the DNS server on their end (the end your connected to). So the VPN would only apply to your network (think of it as a private tunnel for your access), but any computer, by default, has DNS enabled with Windows (at least with NT4, 2000, and Server). You need this, otherwise the server wont know which computers are which.

by tomjedrz

Sorry for the delayed response.

Perhaps I was hasty in my initial response. Can you clarify what exactly "internal name resolution" is and how it is enabled/implemented?

I have a good understanding of how name resolution works. When the PC connects to the internet, typically with DHCP, it uses the name servers for the ISP. I am trying to figure out a way to setup the remote computers so that when the VPN is active there is some name resolution for internal servers.

One possibility is to load a hosts file with my internal servers, but this is only marginally acceptable.

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