NetBIOS over IP Tunnels

Hello,

I have a MS Windows 2003 Server running an Active directory.
The plan is to access file sharing from outside the LAN using port tunneling over SSL.

THE PROBLEM IS CONNECTING VISTA... XP WORKS FINE.

Here is the architecture:

Remote Computer----------(INTERNET)----------(GATEWAY_SERVER)------------(MS WINDOWS 2003)

With Putty we SSH to the gateway with the following tunneling rule:

10.0.0.2:139:msserver.lan.mydomain.com:139

On XP, here is what we do to make it work:

1) Add "Loopback" adapter (see http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_...Windows-XP.html for instructions)

2) Rename it to "VPN"

3) Right click "VPN", and choose "Properties"

4) Make sure to unselect "File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks"

5) Select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click "Properties"

6) Set "Use the following IP address" and use "10.0.0.2" with subnet mask "255.255.255.0"

7) Leave "Default gateway" and the servers below "Use the following DNS server addresses" empty

8) Click on "Advanced..." then "WINS"

9) Make sure "Enable LMHOSTS lookup" is unselected

10) Set "Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP"

11) Click "OK", "OK", "OK"

12) Setup network drives on MS SERVER using \\10.0.0.2\name_of_drive When prompted for Login/Pass, use *user's* login/pass and check "Remember my password"

IT WORKS on XP

VISTA IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME. (The exact same server, gateway and configuration)
It says: "Unable to resolve name" check spelling...

Any clues for VISTA???


Regards

HI youssefaoun,

You need to forward a few more ports for NetBIOS to work effectively over SSH... your forgetting its just a port tunnel not an actual real network link...Port 139, 445 and maybe one or two more are needed.

You should also configure the VPN server with the IP addresses of the appropriate DNS and WINS servers. The VPN client inherits the DNS and WINS configured on the VPN server. If name resolution does not work from the VPN server, it will not work for VPN clients.

Let me know.
Steven

Hi dmex

Thank you for your answer.
However, the configuration I gave works perfectly for Windows XP. There is no doubt about it.

The question is:"Why isn't it working for VISTA?"
Does vista require more ports?
What are those ports?

Regards.

Hey Youssefaoun,

When you type the NetBIOS name into the address bar what is the error code you get like the one below? also what does the diagnostics say?

Well, the message is pretty similar.
On the other hand, the ERROR CODE is different.

Please see the attachment.

Regards,

Can you show me a screenshot of the "Diagnose" ?

dmex,

The diagnose found NOTHING, absolutely nothing.
"Cannot fix the problem"

Regards,

Let me figure this out...You have setup the network as follows?

VistaPC > VPNadapter> InterNET > VPN Server > LAN > ServerPC

Enable "File and printer sharing for Microsoft networks" and "client for Microsoft Networks" on the Vista PC VPN and internet connection so it can send/recieve any requests and see if there are any changes...You can safly enable these services on Vista for use over the internet, Just not on the server or XP...


Have you also tried setting up the VPN locally without the internet/firewalls and other software first before trying it over the inetrnet with its other many layers of security? It can be a good way to find the setting or program causing the problem...Its just not a good idea to setup or diagnose the this over the internet first without trying it locally...