Mac: Setting up VPN

I’m being set up for a VPN connection so that I can telecommute one day a week (and be able to work when it snows).

First: I am able to connect using my PowerBook G4 running OS X 10.4.10.

But I have to actually type in the IP address to connect. The IP address may change from time to time. What I need to do is be able to type in NAME-WORK-123 and have the network provide the IP address automatically. Now, I know nothing about this sort of thing, so I don’t know how much information I can provide. Here’s what I was told:

  1. We need to modify my connection configuration: Domain suffix and DNS servers on the VPN configuration.

  2. Find the gateway default setting.

I’m connecting to a Win2003 Network via Watchdog firewall using RADIUS.

In Windows there is an Advanced tab where the things we need to change can be changed. We can’t find an ‘Advanced’ tab for VPN in Internet Connect.

What we’d like to do is set it up so that when I log into into the Remote Desktop it will automatically go to VPN; but if I go to the Internet (i.e., I open Safari) it will automatically use the AirPort.

As I said I was able to log in from a local Wi-Fi hotspot, so I seem to be good for telecommuting. (Tomorrow’s a day off, so I can test it from home.) But it would be better if we could use the NAME-WORK-123 (Domain name? Whatever that’s called) in case the VPN changes.

Any Mac-to-Windows-via-VPN gurus in the house?

Correction: Firewall is Watchguard, not Watchdog.

Here’s another thing: When I connect to my work computer it pops up in a window. I tried to resize the window by grabbing the lower-right corner and dragging as usual, only it didn’t work. So I’m stuck with a window that’s smaller than I’d like.

In Internet Connect, you can goto File | New VPN Connection and set it up from there on the Mac.

RE: Window size: If you’re using RDC to connect to your work computer, before you connect, you’ll see Options. Expand this and click on the Display tab and you 'll see an option to choose the size of your remote desktop. Change this to full screen.

The tech guy set me up that way. But once it’s set up, how do I do the things in the OP?

Yes, it’s RDC. I was about to say I didn’t see anything other than the box for the IP address and the Connect button, but I did find the display size in Preferences. I’ll try it out next time I connect. (Of course it would be better if I could connect to my PC via VPN and connect to SDMB through my ISP!)

Thanks.

Missed the edit window:

Incidentally, I’ve been working all day (except when I was here on the 'net – hey, it’s my day off!) on a bit of a test to see how this is going to work. I accessed my email, was able to edit a file in Excel (although I emailed it to myself, logged off of VPN, downloaded the emailed file, and used Excel on my Mac because it was much quicker), sent the finished file back to my desk, ran it through Access, ran it through Easytrieve, filed in the right folder, encrypted it, zipped it, and mailed it off. So I can do my job. :slight_smile: The only weird thing is that I have to use Windows controls (ctrl-C vs. Apple-C, for example) and I had to plug in an external mouse because I don’t have crtl-click for ‘right click’.