PCAnywhere 11.0 with multiple hosts behind one WAN

Foremore · 08-19-2009, 01:14 PM

I have PCanywhere setup in 5 locations with about 20 pc's at each place. My VPN allows me to connect to each one while inside the VPN with local IP addresses. I Configured the WAN IP of each location to direct PCanywhere to one computer in each location. This allows me to connect to any of 5 computers in the VPN outside of the VPN. I want to make it so using PCanywhere I can connect to any machine in the VPN using the WAN to the location. So an example would be: I type in a WAN ip of one location fallowed by the port (or something to that effect) and it goes to a certain computer with in the network allowing more then one computer to share the WAN ip for use of pcanywhere. Is there a feature for when you enter in the WAN ip of the location PCanywhere asks which computer to connect to behind that WAN? Is there another way to accomplish this?
in the past I have connected to the one machine I have mapped to the WAN and then from there opened up a session and ran pcanywhere from that machine to any other within the VPN. I know there are VPN clients out there but it gets complicated (not to mention pricey) to setup each machine with client software when I could just have it preconfigured and just install pcanywhere on any machine and get onto any computer within my VPN.

Thanks for any input on all with this. Let me know of any way to improve forum posting also, I am new to this

-Trevor

Foremore · 08-19-2009, 03:42 PM

*UPDATE*
So I have figured out how to make PCanywhere work with multiple hosts behind one WAN. changing ports on PCanywhere side of each individual machine, then having the the router do the port forward to the respected computer. I can think of three problems with this:
1. Will my router (multitech Routefinder RF820) take a response from a host machine with certain ports trying to access a remote machine with other ports defined. so if I where to have the regular PCA ports 5631:5632 on my home machine and then on the remote inside the VPN it has ports 5641:5642 will it conflict?
2. will changing port range on each comp affect local VPN connections? Is having multiple hosts on each computer (one for the local and one for the WAN)a solution?
3. trying to figure out if multiple ports open for PCA is worth the risk of hack...

clyde123 · 08-20-2009, 05:08 AM

Hi Foremore. Personally I have moved away from using PCAnywhere for multiple PC networks.
I setup a VPN on the router for each location. Then use RealVNC to connect from my own PC to any PC within that network.
It just works.
Also I access a number of networks that way, without any hassle.
It does mean that you need to setup a number of VPNs on your own PC though.

08-19-2009, 01:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Foremore Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP Pro	PCAnywhere 11.0 with multiple hosts behind one WAN I have PCanywhere setup in 5 locations with about 20 pc's at each place. My VPN allows me to connect to each one while inside the VPN with local IP addresses. I Configured the WAN IP of each location to direct PCanywhere to one computer in each location. This allows me to connect to any of 5 computers in the VPN outside of the VPN. I want to make it so using PCanywhere I can connect to any machine in the VPN using the WAN to the location. So an example would be: I type in a WAN ip of one location fallowed by the port (or something to that effect) and it goes to a certain computer with in the network allowing more then one computer to share the WAN ip for use of pcanywhere. Is there a feature for when you enter in the WAN ip of the location PCanywhere asks which computer to connect to behind that WAN? Is there another way to accomplish this? in the past I have connected to the one machine I have mapped to the WAN and then from there opened up a session and ran pcanywhere from that machine to any other within the VPN. I know there are VPN clients out there but it gets complicated (not to mention pricey) to setup each machine with client software when I could just have it preconfigured and just install pcanywhere on any machine and get onto any computer within my VPN. Thanks for any input on all with this. Let me know of any way to improve forum posting also, I am new to this -Trevor Last edited by Foremore; 08-19-2009 at 01:15 PM.

08-19-2009, 03:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Foremore Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP Pro	Re: PCAnywhere 11.0 with multiple hosts behind one WAN UPDATE So I have figured out how to make PCanywhere work with multiple hosts behind one WAN. changing ports on PCanywhere side of each individual machine, then having the the router do the port forward to the respected computer. I can think of three problems with this: 1. Will my router (multitech Routefinder RF820) take a response from a host machine with certain ports trying to access a remote machine with other ports defined. so if I where to have the regular PCA ports 5631:5632 on my home machine and then on the remote inside the VPN it has ports 5641:5642 will it conflict? 2. will changing port range on each comp affect local VPN connections? Is having multiple hosts on each computer (one for the local and one for the WAN)a solution? 3. trying to figure out if multiple ports open for PCA is worth the risk of hack...

08-20-2009, 05:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
clyde123 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 398 OS: xp sp2	Re: PCAnywhere 11.0 with multiple hosts behind one WAN Hi Foremore. Personally I have moved away from using PCAnywhere for multiple PC networks. I setup a VPN on the router for each location. Then use RealVNC to connect from my own PC to any PC within that network. It just works. Also I access a number of networks that way, without any hassle. It does mean that you need to setup a number of VPNs on your own PC though.