VMWare - cannot Remote Desktop - O2 broadband

AMO

Hi all,

I have a Windows XP SP3 machine but I need to connect to a lot of customer sites using VPN software.

However, each VPN software is not compatible with each other.

So I create a Windows XP VMWare session and copy it several times.

In each Windows XP VMWare session I install a separate VPN.

The main machine has internet access which this inherits.

Now, the problem I have is that although the VPNs can connect to the customer sites, remote desktop can't find the server I type in.

However, if I install the VPN software on the main machine I don't have a problem.

Also, I think that the problem does not exist if I have my internet plugged into my main ISP (wireless router / landline). However, it fails if I use O2 mobile broadband. I need to double check this though.

Can anyone think of any reason why Remote Desktoping out from a VMWare session will fail?

I have Googled a bit, but those scenarios are for people wanting to Remote Desktop to a machine hosting several VMWare sessions.

Thanks.

AMO

mr_fishbulb

How do your have you network settings in VMWare set for the machines?

Try changing NAT to Bridged (or vice versa) to see if it has any affect?

AMO

Hi,

Thanks for that.

For the main machine:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : main-work
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter VMware Network Adapter VMnet8:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet8
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-50-56-C0-00-08
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.142.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter VMware Network Adapter VMnet1:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet1
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-50-56-C0-00-01
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.139.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-22-68-7B-C8-50

PPP adapter Cellular Profile:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.91.162.114
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.91.162.114
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 82.132.136.102
82.132.136.103

For the VMWare machine:



Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : support
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : localdomain
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : localdomain
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Accelerated AMD PCNet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0C-29-22-87-B5
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.142.131
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.142.2
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.142.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.142.2
Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.142.2
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 16 September 2009 13:35:17
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 16 September 2009 14:05:17

I use NAT. When I switched to Bridged I lose internet connectivity. I believe Bridged results in another I.P. address. As I am using Mobile Broadband connected with a dongle straight to the O2 network, I assume that this causes problems?

Thanks,

AMO

mr_fishbulb

AMO wrote: »

However, if I install the VPN software on the main machine I don't have a problem.

Also, I think that the problem does not exist if I have my internet plugged into my main ISP (wireless router / landline). However, it fails if I use O2 mobile broadband. I need to double check this though.

Can I just double check this is correct?

VPN on your main machine. Using wireless router/landline = WORKING
VPN on your main machine. Using O2 dongle = WORKING
VPN on VMWARE. Using wireless router/landline = WORKING
VPN on VMWARE. Using O2 dongle = NOT WORKING

BillScarab

When you try to connect via VPN from a Vmware session how are you specifying the remote machine? Are you using the hostname or the IP address?

Could just be a DNS problem if you're using the hostname. If each virtual machine is used to connect to one specific remote machine try adding an entry in the hosts file on the virtual machine.

AMO

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

Can I just double check this is correct?

VPN on your main machine. Using wireless router/landline = WORKING
Yep!

VPN on your main machine. Using O2 dongle = WORKING
Yep!

VPN on VMWARE. Using wireless router/landline = WORKING
I think so. I am sure that I tested the Cisco VPN in the virtual environment at home before bringing the machine into work.

VPN on VMWARE. Using O2 dongle = NOT WORKING
Yep!

I don't know whether its to do with modem (as opposed to router setup) when using the dongle which possibly affects IP address creation?

AMO

AMO

BillScarab wrote: »

When you try to connect via VPN from a Vmware session how are you specifying the remote machine? Are you using the hostname or the IP address?

Could just be a DNS problem if you're using the hostname. If each virtual machine is used to connect to one specific remote machine try adding an entry in the hosts file on the virtual machine.

Thanks.

I am using the IP address, not the hostname. Actually I try them both.

AMO

BillScarab

What VMware software are you atcually using to run the virtual machines? Is it VMware Player?

AMO

BillScarab wrote: »

What VMware software are you atcually using to run the virtual machines? Is it VMware Player?

Hi,

I use WMWare Player.

I also use VMWare Workstation 6.5.

Thanks.

AMO

AMO

Sorry all - I got it wrong. It appears that it doesn't work in a VMWare session regardless. Only directly through my main machine.

I got confused as some of the web-based VPNs do work.

So in a nutshell, I can't get Remote Desktop to work from within a VPN session (e.g. Cisco VPN) within a VMWare Windows session.

AMO

Dime_Bar

You say the VPN connects within the VMWare Session, if so do you get an IP Address from the remote network?

Out of interest do you use all these connections at the same time?