This is a very useful feature for those of you running Windows on your Mac who still need to connect to corporate assets, like an Exchange server. All I had to do was set my Windows XP virtual machine to use shared networking, and all traffic tunneled over the VPN. In my testing, I didn’t have any problems using VPN Tracker with Parallels virtualization. I easily wrote a three-line script to automatically connect a client by sending it a specially formatted e-mail. You can start, stop, and reconfigure connections and groups via AppleScript commands. If those aren’t enough for you, the application also supports an extensive AppleScript library. This is a powerful feature that gives you access to the right sets of servers and applications only when you’re connected, and eliminates system slowdowns and error messages if they are unreachable. VPN Tracker can automatically mount servers, check e-mail, and even launch applications when connecting to remote networks, and shut them down when disconnecting. You can thus connect to your VPN automatically when you leave the office, and disconnect when returning to work.Īmong the software’s most useful features are startup and shutdown actions. The software is location aware, allowing you to change connections manually by changing network location (with the Location pull-down menu), or automatically based on your Airport wireless network ID. It’s overkill for the average user, but IT professionals often need to connect to multiple networks. The Professional version supports multiple simultaneous connections, allowing you to check your e-mail in London while pulling files from Dubai and running applications in Argentina. VPN Tracker 5.2 really shines once configuration is complete. For my first connection to the Macworld gateway, I selected the Cisco concentrator version, and the main window then showed the required settings.Ĭontrol multiple connections with iPhone-style sliders. VPN Tracker says it is compatible with over 300 gateways, and the first step to create a new connection is to pick your manufacturer and model. Many VPN gateways, even inexpensive small office devices, require you to use their specific client program, which may or may not be available for Macs. VPN Tracker makes an admirable effort to hide much of the complexity of VPNs and guide you through the process of creating and troubleshooting connections. A Dashboard widget, AppleScript, and Growl support are included. Connection status and statistics for the current connection are graphically displayed in the Status pane on the bottom, while the main window expands and uses a tabbed interface to display detailed configuration information and logs for the current connection. Connections are organized in groups for individual or collective launch. The interface uses a simple, iPhone-style slider to manage connections. Perform automatic actions based on your location or connection status. VPN Tracker supports IPSec, and does not conflict with the native Mac OS X PPTP or IPSec VPN client-in fact, you can use both concurrently. VPNs are also an excellent way to protect yourself from eavesdropping when using public wireless hotspots. Most VPNs use a protocol called IPSec, although an older, less secure, standard called PPTP is still in wide use. It allows you to check your e-mail, access servers or applications, or perform any other activity as if you were on the local network. A VPN client connects to a VPN server or gateway, creating an encrypted tunnel between the two. What’s a VPN?Ī virtual private network (VPN) is a way to securely connect to a remote network over the Internet without having to worry about someone sniffing-that is, eavesdropping on-your traffic. VPN Tracker 5.2.1 hides much of this complexity behind a slick Mac interface, but it may be overkill for the average Mac user. In order to achieve successful remote access-from an employee’s home to an office server, say-there are a myriad of options that must align in perfect harmony between the client and server that make even hardened security professionals cringe. Few workplace experiences are as frustrating as attempting to configure a new virtual private network connection.
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