i need to be able to access a customer's SQL Server, and ideally their entire LAN, remotely.
They have a firewall/router, but the guy responsible for it is unwilling to open ports for SQL Server, and is unable to support PPTP forwarding.
The admin did open VNC, on a non-stanrdard port, but since they have a dynamic IP it is difficult to find them all the time.
In the past i have created a VPN connection that connects back to our network. But that didn't work so well, since when i need access i have to ask the computer-phobic users to double-click the icon and press Connect
i did try creating a scheduled task that attempts to keep the VPN connection back to our office up at all times by running:
>rasdial "vpn to me"
But after a few months the VPN connection went insane, and thought it was both, and neither, connected an disconnected; and the vpn connection wouldn't work again until the server was rebooted.
Can anyone think of a way where i can access the customer's LAN that doesn't involve
opening ports on the router
needing to know their external IP
customer interaction of any kind
Blah blah blah
use vpn
vnc protocol has known weaknesses
you are unwise to lower your defenses
it's not wise to expose SQL Server directly to the internet
you stole that line from Empire
Customer doesn't care about any of that. Customer wants things to work.
