2.4 VPN Server Manager

PacketiX VPN Server Manager is an administration utility for Windows that comes with PacketiX VPN Server 2.0 or PacketiX VPN Bridge 2.0. This section contains a description of how to use PacketiX VPN Server Manager.

2.4.1 What is VPN Server Manager

PacketiX VPN Server Manager is an administration utility that supports Windows graphic user interface (GUI) for administering PacketiX VPN Server or PacketiX VPN Bridge by local or remote computer. Using VPN Server Manager enables you to connect to and administer PacketiX VPN Server or PacketiX VPN Bridge without learning complicated commands or operation methods. You can also administer PacketiX VPN Server / PacketiX VPN Bridge operating on a UNIX operating system from a familiar Windows terminal.

Using VPN Server Manager is extremely convenient because it lets you connect to VPN Server / VPN Bridge in a remote location via the Internet. The host name or IP address of the connection destination VPN Server / VPN Bridge when connecting and the listener port number by which the servers are operating are specified as "1". If server administration is conducted through a network, all communication contents are automatically encrypted by SSL to ensure security.

For information on how to use VPN Server Manager, see 「3.3.3 Administration Tools & Remote Administration」.

Fig. 2-4-1 VPN Server and VPN Bridge administration by VPN Server Manager

2.4.2 VPN Server Manager Support System

VPN Server Manager supports the following operating systems.

If the Japanese version of VPN Server Manager is used with Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition or Windows Millennium Edition, it requires a Japanese operating system. Other language operating systems that support Unicode can also be used.

2.4.3 Connecting to VPN Server and VPN Bridge

PacketiX VPN Server Manager can conduct remote administration by connecting to VPN Server or VPN Bridge. If the connection destination VPN Server or VPN Bridge is running on the same machine, it can also connect to localhost (in this case communication among processes is carried out and network communication does not occur).

PacketiX VPN Server Manager can manage VPN Server or VPN Bridge operating remotely via HTTP proxy server or SOCK proxy server.

When connecting to VPN Server or VPN Bridge you must select either server administration mode or Virtual HUB administration mode as the connection mode.

• Server administration mode:
  Server administration mode is used when authorized to administer the entire PacketiX VPN Server. If connected in the server administration mode, you can acquire or modify setting information for the entire VPN Server and you can administer all Virtual HUBs operating in that VPN Server. If conducting administration by connecting to PacketiX VPN Bridge, connection is always in the server administration mode.
• Virtual HUB administration mode:
  With the Virtual HUB Administration mode, you select one of the Virtual HUBs operating within PacketiX VPN Server and connect as administrator of that Virtual HUB. This mode is used to transfer administration authority from the administrator of the entire PacketiX VPN Server to another Virtual HUB.

For information on transferring administration authority, see 「3.3.4 Administration Authority」.

2.4.4 Installing VPN Server Manager Alone

PacketiX VPN Server Manager is automatically installed on to the computer when Windows version of either PacketiX VPN Server or PacketiX VPN Bridge is installed.

A version without installer is available in the Windows distribution package for PacketiX VPN Server and PacketiX VPN Bridge (marked "exe-only"). When the exe-only version package is unzipped, executable files for PacketiX VPN Server and PacketiX VPN Bridge are unzipped to the directory of your choice. PacketiX VPN Server Manager can be executed from the following 2 files alone:

• vpnsmgr.exe (vpnsmgr_x64.exe for 64-bit version)
• hamcore.se2

To administer computers installed with PacketiX VPN Server or PacketiX VPN Bridge from a remote location, install by copying the files given above in any directory of any Windows PC to be used for administration. This enables PacketiX VPN Server or PacketiX VPN Bridge to be administered by GUI from a laptop PC, etc.

2.4.5 Setup Wizard

If you connect to PacketiX VPN Server or PacketiX VPN Bridge for which no settings have been made after being installed PacketiX VPN Server Manager, the PacketiX VPN Server / Bridge easy setup wizard may be launched.

Using the setup wizard facilitates setting of VPN Server / Bridge for VPN connection among bases or VPN Server for remote access VPN.

The online manual does not provide a description of how to use the setup wizard, but it's so easy it doesn't require an explanation.

Fig. 2-4-2 PacketiX VPN Server / Bridge setup wizard

2.4.6 Limitations

PacketiX VPN Server Manager is superior administration software whereby all operation can be conducted from GUI, but it has the following limitations.

• Because it supports a Windows GUI, the software will not run on any operating system other than Windows. Consequently Linux or other UNIX systems cannot be used to administer PacketiX VPN Server. (PacketiX VPN Server running on Linux or UNIX system can however be administered from a Windows terminal.)
• Because it is GUI software, it is not easy to automate administration by importing script commands that are hard to operate by input from command line. (It can be done by using other automation tool of GUI operation, but is not common.)
• "reboot" command is not implemented in vpncmd command.

If you want to conduct administration with the limitations described above, we recommend using VPN command management utility (vpncmd). For more information on vpncmd, see 「2.6 VPN Command Line Management Utility (vpncmd)」 and 「Chapter 6 Command Line Management Utility Manual」.

PacketiX VPN 2.0 Online Manual 2.20.5320
Copyright © 2004-2007 SoftEther Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
 Contact Plat'Home for inquiries. | Support | Notes