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OT: Troubleshooting an IP device on a LAN from another LAN--would a VPN work?

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  OT: Troubleshooting an IP device on a LAN from another LAN--would a VPN work? rhkramer@gmail.com - 2017-12-08 15:50 +0100
    Re: OT: Troubleshooting an IP device on a LAN from another LAN--would  a VPN work? Mark Fletcher <mark27q1@gmail.com> - 2017-12-08 17:10 +0100
      Re: OT: Troubleshooting an IP device on a LAN from another LAN--would a VPN work? rhkramer@gmail.com - 2017-12-08 17:50 +0100

#189674 — OT: Troubleshooting an IP device on a LAN from another LAN--would a VPN work?

This may become on-topic if I need to learn how to set up a VPN, and 
especially if I have to have a non-computer savvy person at the other end 
(using a Windows computer) do something to set up the VPN on their end.

I have a friend about 100 miles away with an IP device (specifically, an Obi 
100 VOIP "converter") that is currently not working.  I found a workaround for 
the recent problem caused by, iiuc, changes made by Google Voice which ObiHai 
/ ObiTalk will not accomodate because the Obi 100 is obsolete (they say EOL: 
End of Life).

Aside: The workaround for the most recent problem is to use a service from 
simonics.com which basically converts between SIP (iiuc, the standard VOIP 
protocol) and XMPP (which, again, iiuc, is more like something proprietary (or 
at least special to Google Voice)--they charge a one time fee of $6 or less 
for access to their servers that make that conversion--the access is 
"perpetual" or until they go out of business (which they are not planning on, 
afaict).

Oh, I guess I should mention that the other workaround is to buy a new Obi 
device, in the 200 series, which will presumably work until they EOL that.

Back to the point:

I would like to try to help them fix their problems (they may have more than 
one, because they say the Obi hasn't worked for several months).

I have started to send them emails with instructions initially to check 
certain items (is the power light on, does the echo server work, ...) and give 
me the results.  Later I expect to be telling them to go into various 
configuration screens to make changes.

It would be easier if I could do something to access their Obi (on their LAN, 
connected to the Internet via their cable provider) and check things and make 
changes as needed.

Would a VPN do the job?

If so, give me some clues on how hard it might be to set up, both on my end, 
and their end, where, as I mentioned, they use a Windows computer and are not 
especially computer savvy.

If not, is their something else you can recommend?

Thanks!

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#189678 — Re: OT: Troubleshooting an IP device on a LAN from another LAN--would a VPN work?

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On Fri, Dec 8, 2017 at 23:47 <rhkramer@gmail.com> wrote:

> This may become on-topic if I need to learn how to set up a VPN, and
> especially if I have to have a non-computer savvy person at the other end
> (using a Windows computer) do something to set up the VPN on their end.
>
> I have a friend about 100 miles away with an IP device (specifically, an
> Obi
> 100 VOIP "converter") that is currently not working.  I found a workaround
> for
> the recent problem caused by, iiuc, changes made by Google Voice which
> ObiHai
> / ObiTalk will not accomodate because the Obi 100 is obsolete (they say
> EOL:
> End of Life).
>
> Aside: The workaround for the most recent problem is to use a service from
> simonics.com which basically converts between SIP (iiuc, the standard VOIP
> protocol) and XMPP (which, again, iiuc, is more like something proprietary
> (or
> at least special to Google Voice)--they charge a one time fee of $6 or less
> for access to their servers that make that conversion--the access is
> "perpetual" or until they go out of business (which they are not planning
> on,
> afaict).
>
> Oh, I guess I should mention that the other workaround is to buy a new Obi
> device, in the 200 series, which will presumably work until they EOL that.
>
> Back to the point:
>
> I would like to try to help them fix their problems (they may have more
> than
> one, because they say the Obi hasn't worked for several months).
>
> I have started to send them emails with instructions initially to check
> certain items (is the power light on, does the echo server work, ...) and
> give
> me the results.  Later I expect to be telling them to go into various
> configuration screens to make changes.
>
> It would be easier if I could do something to access their Obi (on their
> LAN,
> connected to the Internet via their cable provider) and check things and
> make
> changes as needed.
>
> Would a VPN do the job?
>
> If so, give me some clues on how hard it might be to set up, both on my
> end,
> and their end, where, as I mentioned, they use a Windows computer and are
> not
> especially computer savvy.
>
> If not, is their something else you can recommend?
>
> Thanks!
>

I think you have two options — a paid service like LogMeIn or OpenVPN.

LogMeIn is the easier option if a solution is considered worth money. Your
friend would install LogMeIn on their Windows computer and you’d need a
Windows, iOS or Android device on your end (I don’t think LogMeIn have a
Linux client but check as I could be wrong). You’d remote control their
Windows machine from your end and use it to ssh or whatever to the Obi.

If solutions must be free then I’d suggest to get the same effect with
OpenVPN. This will take quite a bit more setup; the OpenVPN instructions
are good but there are more steps, so if you want to go that way let us
know and I’ll describe in more detail how I would do it.

HTH

Mark

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#189679

On Friday, December 08, 2017 11:01:52 AM Mark Fletcher wrote:
> I think you have two options — a paid service like LogMeIn or OpenVPN.
> 
> LogMeIn is the easier option if a solution is considered worth money. Your
> friend would install LogMeIn on their Windows computer and you’d need a
> Windows, iOS or Android device on your end (I don’t think LogMeIn have a
> Linux client but check as I could be wrong). You’d remote control their
> Windows machine from your end and use it to ssh or whatever to the Obi.
> 
> If solutions must be free then I’d suggest to get the same effect with
> OpenVPN. This will take quite a bit more setup; the OpenVPN instructions
> are good but there are more steps, so if you want to go that way let us
> know and I’ll describe in more detail how I would do it.

Thanks for the reply!

I'll look into LogMein later today or tomorrow (I have to run some errands and 
such now)--it may actually be Sunday or Monday before I can spend much time on 
it again.

I appreciate the offer, if I decide to try OpenVPN I'll get back to you.

regards,
Randy Kramer

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