Re: Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
On 29/08/2008, at 10:54 AM, Steven Knowles wrote: So would the MacOS have the functionality of Cisco's VPN Client built into it? What prompts me to ask that question is that I notice within my Mac's Network settings that there is a VPN (L2TP) option, which I currently have set as inactive. Could I use these settings instead of a 3rd party VPN Client? Or, do I need to obtain a Mac version of VPN Client which, according to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/secursw/ps2308, does exist. Apart from the Windows version of the VPN Client application, I've been given a server and Workdesk login, and a Username and password. If there's nothing special or proprietary about the VPN support in a Cisco router, you should be abele to connect quite easily with the built-in VPN client. Theoretically, VPN is VPN, no matter what hardware is supporting it. Nevertheless, they may be using some special port that only Cisco knows, or employing some added security layer that requires their client to break through. For the built-in Mac OS X client, you'll need to know the following: 1. The connection type (L2TP vs PPTP) 2. The Server address (IP address or domain name) 3. Username password (you have these) 4. Authentication type (Password, Kerberos, etc) The installer they sent you probably already know all this stuff, but if you have all the correct information and still have trouble connecting, you will have to get them to send you the Mac client (Cisco won't allow you to download it unless you're registered with them). It should just work;-) -- Peter HinchliffeApwin Computer Services FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482Fax (618) 9332 0913 Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
Hi Steven, If they have a Cisco VPN setup you will need to use the Cisco client. There are standards for VPNS but many vendors have proprietary clients. I use the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client for Mac to connect to a clients network. I think you need to register for a Cisco ID to download it but check it out here; http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps8411/tsd_products_support_series_home. html Regards, Stuart So would the MacOS have the functionality of Cisco's VPN Client built into it? What prompts me to ask that question is that I notice within my Mac's Network settings that there is a VPN (L2TP) option, which I currently have set as inactive. Could I use these settings instead of a 3rd party VPN Client? -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
Neil Houghton wrote: Hardware Related Issues Working from home You can connect to your WorkDESK database and work from home using any of the Remote Office hardware alternatives (Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop connection, Windows, Terminal Services, Citrix Metaframe). You can also access the WorkDESK database using 'PC Anywhere' software - purchase separately). So it sounds like you can use either of the free Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection or CoRD to connect. (The equivalent of Timbuktu or Apple's Remote Desktop) http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/remote-desktop/default.mspx http://cord.sourceforge.net/ Your connection needs to be through their VPN, so you'd need to know what the connection details are. Namely the VPN server IP address and the account name to use to log into it. Also, whether it's L2TP or PPTP. You may also need a certificate from them depending on how it's set up. So, you could probably do it without resorting to BootCamp/Parallels/VMWare, but you'd need some more info out of them which may be more painful than just running Windows. Have fun, Shay -- === Shay Telfer Perth, Western Australia Technomancer The love of liberty is the love Opinions for hire [POQ] of others; the love of power is http://newtonslore.com/fnord the love of ourselves - Hazlitt -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
Thanks to Neil H, Shay and Peter H for your thoughts on my query about accessing Workdesk. I've since found a little more info, after finding a Windows machine on which to launch the software I've been given. The software sent to me is Cisco's VPN Client, which has been sent to me in order to access the server on which I presume a Workdesk application and database is housed. So this VPN Client has nothing to do with WorkDesk itself. It's just a means of accessing the remote server (I think?). So would the MacOS have the functionality of Cisco's VPN Client built into it? What prompts me to ask that question is that I notice within my Mac's Network settings that there is a VPN (L2TP) option, which I currently have set as inactive. Could I use these settings instead of a 3rd party VPN Client? Or, do I need to obtain a Mac version of VPN Client which, according to http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/secursw/ps2308, does exist. Apart from the Windows version of the VPN Client application, I've been given a server and Workdesk login, and a Username and password. Cheers, Steven On 28/08/2008, at 5:10 AM, Steven wrote: Hoping someone can give me a tip or two please. I need to access a 3rd party database www.workdesk.com.au housed on a remote server, and to do so someone has given me a bunch of files to instal on my machine. They are clearly Windows files, named as follows... data1.cab data1.hdr data2.cab DelayInst.exe ikernel.ex_ installservice.exe InstHelper.dll layout.bin Setup.bmp Setup.exe Setup.ini setup.inx Does this give anyone much of a clue as to what's actually being installed, and should I be able to achieve the same thing on from my Mac (running latest OS) without having to use Bootcamp or any virtual Windows software? Workdesk are a closed shop when it comes to Mac support or answering questions. -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
Hoping someone can give me a tip or two please. I need to access a 3rd party database www.workdesk.com.au housed on a remote server, and to do so someone has given me a bunch of files to instal on my machine. They are clearly Windows files, named as follows... data1.cab data1.hdr data2.cab DelayInst.exe ikernel.ex_ installservice.exe InstHelper.dll layout.bin Setup.bmp Setup.exe Setup.ini setup.inx Does this give anyone much of a clue as to what's actually being installed, and should I be able to achieve the same thing on from my Mac (running latest OS) without having to use Bootcamp or any virtual Windows software? Workdesk are a closed shop when it comes to Mac support or answering questions. Cheers, Steven -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
On 28/08/2008, at 5:10 AM, Steven Knowles wrote: Hoping someone can give me a tip or two please. I need to access a 3rd party database www.workdesk.com.au housed on a remote server, and to do so someone has given me a bunch of files to instal on my machine. They are clearly Windows files, named as follows... data1.cab data1.hdr data2.cab DelayInst.exe ikernel.ex_ installservice.exe InstHelper.dll layout.bin Setup.bmp Setup.exe Setup.ini setup.inx Does this give anyone much of a clue as to what's actually being installed, and should I be able to achieve the same thing on from my Mac (running latest OS) without having to use Bootcamp or any virtual Windows software? Workdesk are a closed shop when it comes to Mac support or answering questions. The files most likely containing the data you are interested in are probably data1.cab, data1.hdr, and data2.cab. These are Windows Cabinet files, and are generally only accessible through an appropriate .exe file. It seems from the list of files you show that you have been given a set f installer files (Setup.exe is a giveaway here), and it's probable that the data1 and data2 files don't contain anything useful anyway at this stage. I don't see anyway of using these files outside a Windows environment. Given that in most virtualisation software (Parallels especially) it is is very easy to share data files and folders between Windows and Mac OS X. That is definitely an option you should consider. Alternatively you could follow up a solution such as offered here: http://echoone.com/filejuicer/formats/cab -- Peter HinchliffeApwin Computer Services FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482Fax (618) 9332 0913 Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Accessing 3rd party database via VPN
Hi Stephen, DISCLAIMER: I really know nothing about accessing third party databases so this might all be rubbish! However, I just took a look at the Workdesk website and I don't think your problem is just how to access a third party database. It appears to me the Workdesk system is actually a Windows application which is essentially a purpose configured front end to their proprietary database. To effectively use the system you have to run the application and since they obviously haven't done an OSX version that means Windows in some form or other (Bootcamp, Parallels etc). I think the custom front-end/hidden database is a fairly common situation - I have windows applications for Self-managed superfund admin and share portfolio management that use their own database in the background and run as a frontend which provides various pages to let you perform various tasks. In your case, you have the added complication that the database is on a remote server, with various attendant security issues. I note from their website the following items: WorkDESK will not operate on a wireless network. and: Hardware Related Issues Working from home You can connect to your WorkDESK database and work from home using any of the Remote Office hardware alternatives (Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop connection, Windows, Terminal Services, Citrix Metaframe). You can also access the WorkDESK database using 'PC Anywhere' software - purchase separately). So what is your actual situation - Do you use the system on a PC at work and also want to access it from your Mac at home or is your situation different? If I was you, I would probably try and tackle the problem in bite-sized bits, ie: 1) Make sure I knew how the system worked and the general set-up parameters on a local PC. 2) Either/or (or preferably both): - get it working on a local Mac - get it working on a remote PC 3) Get your remote Mac setup working. I do think that 3) will still probably involve running Windows on your Mac :( As I say, I come at this with the naivety of ignorance! So this might not be possible/practical! Have fun, Neil -- Neil R. Houghton Albany, Western Australia Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on 28/8/08 8:14 AM, Peter Hinchliffe at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 28/08/2008, at 5:10 AM, Steven Knowles wrote: Hoping someone can give me a tip or two please. I need to access a 3rd party database www.workdesk.com.au housed on a remote server, and to do so someone has given me a bunch of files to instal on my machine. They are clearly Windows files, named as follows... data1.cab data1.hdr data2.cab DelayInst.exe ikernel.ex_ installservice.exe InstHelper.dll layout.bin Setup.bmp Setup.exe Setup.ini setup.inx Does this give anyone much of a clue as to what's actually being installed, and should I be able to achieve the same thing on from my Mac (running latest OS) without having to use Bootcamp or any virtual Windows software? Workdesk are a closed shop when it comes to Mac support or answering questions. The files most likely containing the data you are interested in are probably data1.cab, data1.hdr, and data2.cab. These are Windows Cabinet files, and are generally only accessible through an appropriate .exe file. It seems from the list of files you show that you have been given a set f installer files (Setup.exe is a giveaway here), and it's probable that the data1 and data2 files don't contain anything useful anyway at this stage. I don't see anyway of using these files outside a Windows environment. Given that in most virtualisation software (Parallels especially) it is is very easy to share data files and folders between Windows and Mac OS X. That is definitely an option you should consider. Alternatively you could follow up a solution such as offered here: http://echoone.com/filejuicer/formats/cab -- Peter HinchliffeApwin Computer Services FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer Perth, Western Australia Phone (618) 9332 6482Fax (618) 9332 0913 Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to. -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml Guidelines - http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml Unsubscribe - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
