Tech Note 400 Configuring Remote Connections for Windows 2000/2003/XP All Tech Notes and KBCD documents and software are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. See the Terms of Use for more information. Topic#: 002077 C reated: February 2005 Introduction This tech note describes different options to make a connection from a local PC to a remote PC using Windows 2000, Windows 2003, and Windows XP. Industrial application implementations normally have all PCs communicating over a Local Area Network (LAN). Often the application needs to connect and gather data from a remote computer. In Wonderware applications this is most often a local InTouch connecting to a remote InTouch or remote I/O Server and reading values over the remote connection. Configuring Remote Connections consists of creating incoming connections on the remote PC to act as a RAS Server (Remote Access Server) and then creating a connection on the local PC to connect to the remote PC. The Remote PC can be either Windows 2000 Professional or Server, Windows 2003, or Windows XP. The local PC can be running a variety of Windows Operating Systems (see the article "Incoming connection client" in Windows Help) including Windows 2000, Windows 2003, and Windows XP. The following connections were tested and are included: Windows 2000 Server SP3 to Windows 2000 Server SP3. Windows 2003 to Windows 2003. Windows XP Pro to Windows XP Pro. The following connection types are valid for a remote connection: Dial- up (Modem, ISDN, X.25), Virtual Private Network (VPN) (PPTP, L2TP), or direct (serial, infrared). This tech note explains the configuration steps for all three connection types and includes the following sections: Remote Connections Using Dialup or Direct Cabling Remote Connections Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) Using Rasdial to Automate Opening a Remote Connection Additional documentation for Remote Connections can be found in the Help for Windows 2000, Windows 2003, or Windows XP, which is accessed by Start/Help. The following topics are of interest: - Incoming connections - Incoming connection clients - Direct connections - To make a direct network connection - Virtual private network (VPN) connections - To make a virtual private network (VPN) connection Note: All connection configurations are accessed through Control Panel/Network and Dial- Up Connections or Control Panel/Network Connections. Some of the Setup Wizards will differ based on the particular operating system. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 1/26
Remote Connections Using Dialup or Direct Cabling This example shows the configuration of a direct connection between two Windows PCs. The same principles apply for configuring a Dialup connection. Two tasks are necessary: Create an incoming connection within the remote PC. Create a connection in the local PC to connect to the remote PC. Create an Incoming Connection in the Remote PC By creating an incoming connection, a computer running a supported Windows OS can act as a Remote Access Server. 1. Double- click Make New Connection to launch the Network Connection Wizard: FIGURE 1: NETWORK AND DIAL-UP CONNECTIONS The Welcome... panel appears: https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 2/26
FIGURE 2: WELCOME CONNECTION WIZARD 2. Click Next. The Network Connection Type panel appears (Figure 3 below): FIGURE 3: NETWORK CONNECTION TYPES 3. For Network Connection Type select Accept incoming connections and click Next. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 3/26
The Devices for Incoming Connections panel appears (Figure 4 below). Note: Windows 2003 and Windows XP first require selecting the Set up an advanced connection option, then Accept incoming connections. 4. Select the Connection Device. Note: The test used to create this tech note used a null modem cable to connect two PCs via the COM port. A real world application would often use a modem to make the connection. This is the screen where the modem would be selected: FIGURE 4: CONNECTION DEVICE SELECTION 5. Click Next (Figure 4 above). The Incoming Virtual Private Connection panel appears (Figure 5 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 4/26
FIGURE 5: DO NOT ALLOW VIRTUAL PRIVATE CONNECTIONS OPTION 6. Select Do not allow virtual private connections and click Next. The Allowed Users panel appears (Figure 6 below): FIGURE 6: SELECT ALLOWED USERS https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 5/26
7. Select the users allowed to make connections to this computer and click Next. The Networking Components panel appears (Figure 7 below): FIGURE 7: DEFAULT NETWORK COMPONENTS Ensure the correct Networking Components are selected. 8. Click Next. The Completing... panel appears (Figure 8 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 6/26
FIGURE 8: COMPLETING THE NETWORK CONNECTION 9. Accept the default name or enter one. 10. Click Finish. Create a Remote PC Connection in the Local PC 1. Double-click Make New Connection to launch the Network Connection Wizard. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 7/26
FIGURE 9: MAKE NEW CONNECTION The Welcome... panel appears (Figure 10 below): FIGURE 10: NETWORK CONNECTION WIZARD 2. Click Next. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 8/26
The Network Connection Type panel appears (Figure 11 below): 3. Select the type of connection to use. The test used to create this tech note used a null modem cable to connect two PCs via the COM port. A real world application would often use a modem to make the connection. This is the screen where the modem would be selected. Note: Windows 2003 and Windows XP first require selecting Set up an advanced connection, then Connect directly to another computer. FIGURE 11: CONNECT DIRECTLY TO ANOTHER COMPUTER 4. Click Next. The Host or Guest panel appears (Figure 12 below): 5. Select Guest. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 9/26
FIGURE 12: GUEST 6. Click Next. The Select a Device panel appears (Figure 13 below): 7. Select the device to use for the connection. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 10/26
FIGURE 13: SELECT A DEVICE 8. Click Next. The Connection Availability panel appears (Figure 14 below): FIGURE 14: CREATE THE CONNECTION FOR ALL USERS 9. Select For all users and click Next. The Completing... panel appears (Figure 15 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 11/26
FIGURE 15: NAME THE CONNECTION AND CLICK FINISH 10. Name the Connection and click Finish. The Connect Direct Connection dialog box appears (Figure 16 below): FIGURE 16: CONNECT TO REMOTE NODE AS GUEST 11. Enter User name and Password and click Connect. A message appears for a successful connection: https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 12/26
FIGURE 17: CONNECTION COMPLETE 12. Click OK. Remote Connections Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) Two configurations are necessary: Incoming VPN Connection in the Remote PC. Outgoing VPN Connection in the Local PC. Notes: If the VPN Connection goes through a router, then it is necessary to add in the router for PPTP Protocol 47 and Port 1723. The configuration of an InTouch IO Access Name that will communicate through a VPN Connection may require having the Node = IP of the DHCP of the remote network. Incoming VPN Connection in the Remote PC By creating an incoming VPN connection, a computer running a supported Windows OS can act as a Remote Access Server and accept Virtual Private Connections. 1. Double-click Make New Connection to launch the Network Connection Wizard. https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 13/26
FIGURE 18: MAKE NEW CONNECTION The Welcome... panel appears (Figure 19 below): FIGURE 19: NETWORK CONNECTION WIZARD 2. Click Next. The Network Connection Type panel appears (Figure 20 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 14/26
FIGURE 20: ACCEPT INCOMING CONNECTIONS 3. Select Accept incoming connections. 4. Click Next. Note: Windows 2003 and Windows XP first require selecting Set up an advanced connection, then Connect directly to another computer. The Devices for Incoming Connections panel appears (Figure 21 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 15/26
FIGURE 21: DO NOT SELECT DEVICES Do not select any devices. 5. Click Next. The Incoming Virtual Private Connection panel appears (Figure 22 below): FIGURE 22: ALLOW VIRTUAL PRIVATE CONNECTIONS https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 16/26
6. Select Allow virtual private connections and click Next. The Allowed Users panel appears (Figure 23 below): FIGURE 23: SELECT ALLOWED USERS 7. Select the users allowed to make connections to this computer and click Next. Note: Windows 2003 and Windows XP first require selecting Set up an advanced connection, then Accept incoming connections. 8. The Networking Components panel appears (Figure 24 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 17/26
FIGURE 24: NETWORKING COMPONENTS DEFAULTS 9. Accept the default settings and click Next. The Completing... panel appears (Figure 25 below): FIGURE 25: FINISH CONFIGURATION https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 18/26
Outgoing VPN Connection in the Local PC 1. Double-click Make New Connection to launch the Network Connection Wizard. FIGURE 26: MAKE NEW CONNECTION The Welcome... panel appears (Figure 27 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 19/26
FIGURE 27: WELCOME 2. Click Next. The Network Connection Type panel appears (Figure 28 below): FIGURE 28: CONNECT TO A PRIVATE NETWORK THROUGH THE INTERNET 3. Select Connect to a private network through the Internet. Note: Windows 2003 and Windows XP first require selecting Connect to the network at my workplace, then Virtual Private Network connection. 4. Click Next. The Destination Address panel appears (Figure 29 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 20/26
FIGURE 29: DESTINATION ADDRESS PANEL 5. Enter the node name of the Remote Access Server configured to allow virtual private connections. 6. Click Next. The Connection Availablility panel appears (Figure 30 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 21/26
FIGURE 30: CONNECTION AVAILABILITY FOR ALL USERS 7. Select For all users and click Next. The Internet Connection Sharing panel appears (Figure 31 below): FIGURE 31: LEAVE DEFAULT SETTING https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 22/26
Note that this wizard does not appear with Windows 2003 or Windows XP. 8. Leave the default setting and click Next. The Completing... panel appears (Figure 32 below): FIGURE 32: COMPLETE CONNECTION CONFIGURATION 9. Click Finish. The Connect Virtual Private Connection dialog box appears (Figure 33 below): https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 23/26
FIGURE 33: CONNECT 10. Enter User name and Password, then click Connect. A message appears for the successful connection: FIGURE 34: SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION 11. Click OK. Using Rasdial to Automate Opening a Remote Connection The previous section explained connecting on the local PC. The connection can be opened manually by double clicking the connection or you can automate the connection. The following information describes automating the connection: You can connect and disconnect the connection using the command Rasdial: FIGURE 35: RASDIAL Note that VPN Connections may require a Username and Password as part of the Rasdial command. These are two additional parameters to the Rasdial command. For more details see the Windows Help for Rasdial. You can then open the connection from InTouch using the script function WWDosCommand(), as in the following example: https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 24/26
WWDosCommand("rasdial davidu2", "Minimize"); The script function WWDosCommand() can be found on the Wonderware KBCD (Knowledge Base CD). If the connection name has spaces in it, you will have to run a script like the following where doublequote is a Memory Message tag with an Initial Value of the double quote character. rasdialstring = "rasdial " + doublequote + "direct connection" + doublequote; WWDosCommand( rasdialstring, "Minimize" ); Connecting automatically requires configuring Retry Initiates in WindowMaker. This setting is found in Special/Configure/WindowViewer/General/IO/Retry Initiates (Figure 36 below). A value of 10 seconds is good: FIGURE 36: RETRY INITIATES IN WINDOWMAKER D. Ujifusa Tech Notes are published occasionally by Wonderware Technical Support. Publisher: Invensys Systems, Inc., 26561 Rancho Parkway South, Lake Forest, C A 92630. There is also technical information on our software products at Wonderware Technical Support For technical support questions, send an e-mail to support@wonderware.com. back to top 2013 Invensys Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, https://wdnresource.wonderware.com/support/kbcd/html/1/t002077.htm 25/26
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