VPN Router - Machine accessed by many outside users?

[Justasking1]

Hi,

For a small business, I would like to set-up one of the computers in our office for a few members of staff who want to work remotely. Can I use a VPN router to have multiple people access this computer at once? Is there a limit to the number of people who can be on the computer at one time?

Thank you!

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Yes you can, the limit will depend on the solution you choose, on Cisco routers for example, depending on the type of license you acquire you may be limited to 4 users via VPN (meaning you'll have to buy an additional license if you want more ppl get in).

Other vendors however will get you a limit to only 2 users so you'll have to look around and find the most suitable solution for your requirements and budget.

Oh, just to clarify,you don't really need to use VPN in order to get multiple users accessing the same pc, but I assume you want it for security reasons.

 

[Justasking1]

Oh, just to clarify,you don't really need to use VPN in order to get multiple users accessing the same pc, but I assume you want it for security reasons.

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Thank you, RaDiKaL_. How could I allow multiple-user access without (as much) security? (Sorry for my lack of knowledge on this subject, just trying to determine the best way.)

 

[bill001g]

The vpn is only half the issue. What exactly you mean "access". Fileshares and such are pretty easy to have multiple people. If you mean remote desktop then you quickly run into how you would expect to do that and not have the users get in each others ways.

The solution for that part will be the same as if you had the users bring their PC into the office and did it from there..all the VPN part does give access to the local network.

To run without the vpn you would map whatever ports your solution uses though the router so the server can be access directly from the internet. Generally this is not done because there historically been lots of holes in thing like microsoft filesharing

 

[Justasking1]

Thank you, Bill001g. We have a program on one computer and we would like our employees to be able to access and run it remotely. We're just not sure how best to do that. Unfortunately, putting the program on each computer is not possible. Thanks again for your help.

 

[thicks083]

If this is not a question of security, then you should simply look into RDP (Remote Desktop) or Terminal Server programs/solutions for users to the dedicated remote machine. It is a very simple task to implement and maintain and often very successful and useful.
A VPN really doesn't have any play in this.

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Like thicks083 said, Remote Desktop (windows built-in) is what you could use so each user would use to join the pc without VPN.

As for what Bill001g mentioned, to avoid each user getting into another one's way, you would have to make a different session for each user (you do that making a different account for each user which ofc is the usual way).

But you have to make each account restricted so they would only get access to the programs they need, no permissions to make system changes that could prevent other users from accessing the server, and separate files (permission to only access/modify their own folders you would have to make for each user) unless it is intended that they all edit the same folder.

Another solution would be "remote app" also from Microsoft, which instead of giving them full access to the server's desktop, it will create several isolated instances of a program for each user, therefore saving you the need to make all those extra security settings, I've never used it before but I'm sure a google search will tell you everything you know (starting for if it's a built-in feature or if you need to download it/ pay for it heh.)

 

[Justasking1]

Thank you, thicks038.

 

[Justasking1]

Thank you again, RaDiKaL_.

 

[jakeBauer]

Hi,

For a small business, I would like to set-up one of the computers in our office for a few members of staff who want to work remotely. Can I use a VPN router to have multiple people access this computer at once? Is there a limit to the number of people who can be on the computer at one time?

Thank you!

First a couple of Question, Is this a Server you want them to access? Say windows 2000/2003/2008 or a Desktop OS like Windows 7.

There are several ways to go about this.
1. Assuming you have an actual server OS you can setup terminal server services pay the license fee per seat then each user will get their own desktop.

2. You can install Citrix XenApp and then publish the program you want them to access, results are almost the same as option one but you will get better performance from Citrix XenApp.

3. If your Server has the resources you can install VMware Workstation or VMware server for windows and create virtual machines that have the program installed on it, then they can vpn and remote to the virtual machines.

4. If the program is a database driven program it may have the ability to use ODBC or close match to and ODBC then you have the employees install the program on their local system, so once they VPN they can start the program and run it from their homes.

Now if you have this installed on a Desktop OS your only allowed one RDP connection so your limited, but there are ways around that like FreeNX will bypass the limitations of a Desktop OS.

You do have options but each will cost a bit in licensing and implementation. Note I did not give complete steps on how to do all this but it should only take one day for a seasoned person to set anyone of the options up.