Question:

How can I configure a VPN on a Sonicwall router with a static IP for remote file access?

I want to use the VPN feature of my new Sonicwall router to map a server folder on some laptops and access files remotely without using any third-party services. My office has a static IP and a simple network topology. I have a free VPN license for one connection from the router. I am not sure why my local IT company tried to set up a host record on my web host and asked me to pay for a certificate. What are the steps and requirements for setting up a VPN on a Sonicwall router with a static IP?.

Answer:

How to Set Up a VPN on a Sonicwall Router with a Static IP for Remote File Access

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure way of connecting to a remote network over the internet. It allows you to access resources on the network, such as files, printers, and servers, as if you were physically there. A VPN also encrypts your data, protecting it from hackers and snooping.

One of the devices that can act as a VPN server is a Sonicwall router. A Sonicwall router is a firewall appliance that provides network security and management features. It also has a built-in VPN feature that allows you to create and manage VPN connections.

In this article, we will show you how to set up a VPN on a Sonicwall router with a static IP for remote file access.

We

will assume that you have a new Sonicwall router, a free VPN license for one connection, a static IP for your office network, and a simple network topology.

We

will also assume that you want to map a server folder on some laptops and access files remotely without using any third-party services.

The first step is to configure the Sonicwall router for VPN. To do this, you will need to access the router’s web interface and log in with the default credentials. The default IP address of the router is 192.168.168.168, and the default username and password are admin and password, respectively. You can change these settings later.

Once you are logged in, follow these steps:

– Go to Manage > VPN > Settings.

– Click on the WAN GroupVPN policy and edit it.

– On the General tab, make sure the Enable VPN checkbox is checked.

– On the Proposals tab, select the encryption and authentication methods you want to use for the VPN. For example, you can choose AES-256 for encryption and SHA1 for authentication.

– On the Advanced tab, check the Enable Windows Networking (NetBIOS) Broadcast checkbox. This will allow you to access the server folder by its name instead of its IP address.

– On the Client tab, select the Virtual Adapter settings. Choose DHCP Lease for the Mode and Allow Connections to for the Split Tunnels. This will assign a virtual IP address to the VPN client and allow it to access only the office network.

– Click OK to save the changes.

Step 2: Download and Install the Sonicwall Global VPN Client

The next step is to download and install the Sonicwall Global VPN Client on the laptops that you want to use for remote file access. The Sonicwall Global VPN Client is a software that allows you to connect to the VPN server on the Sonicwall router.

To download and install the Sonicwall Global VPN Client, follow these steps:

• Go to the [Sonicwall website](https://www.sonicwall.com/support/product-downloads/) and log in with your account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free.

– Go to the Download Center and select Sonicwall Global VPN Client from the Software Type dropdown menu.

– Choose the version and platform that match your laptop’s operating system. For example, if you have a Windows 10 laptop, you can choose Sonicwall Global VPN Client 4.10.4.0314 for Windows 64-bit.

– Click on the Download button and save the file to your laptop.

• Run the file and follow the installation wizard. You may need to restart your laptop after the installation.

Step 3: Connect to the VPN and Map the Server Folder

The final step is to connect to the VPN and map the server folder on your laptop. To do this, follow these steps:

– Launch the Sonicwall Global VPN Client on your laptop and click on the New Connection button.

– Enter a name for the connection, such as Office VPN.

– Enter the static IP address of your office network, such as 203.0.113.1.

– Click Next and then Finish.

– Select the connection and click on the Enable button. You may need to enter your username and password for the VPN. These are the same as the ones you use to log in to the Sonicwall router’s web interface.

• Once the connection is established, you should see a green icon next to the connection name.

– To map the server folder, open the File Explorer on your laptop and click on This PC.

– Click on the Map network drive button and choose a drive letter, such as Z.

– Enter the path of the server folder, such as \\server\folder. You can also browse for the folder by clicking on the Browse button.

– Check the Reconnect at sign-in checkbox if you want to keep the mapping after you restart your laptop.

– Click Finish. You may need to enter your username and password for the server. These are the same as the ones you use to access the server on the office network.

– You should see the mapped drive under This PC. You can now access the files on the server folder as if they were on your laptop.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to set up a VPN on a Sonicwall router with a static IP for remote file access.

We

have covered the following steps:

• Configure the Sonicwall router for VPN
• Download and install the Sonicwall Global VPN Client
• Connect to the VPN and map the server folder

By following these steps, you can use the VPN feature of your new Sonicwall router to map a server folder on some laptops and access files remotely without using any third-party services. This can help you improve your productivity and security while working from home or on the go.

We

hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading!