Can anyone tell me how I can install and setup vpn server software on my FC6 machine, to be accessible via windows, linux, or mac?

I have been searching google for about 2 hours and getting bits and pieces of information but nothing solid on what is good to use and any instructions.

http://www.openswan.org/

I haven't tried it on fc6

Thanx,
Nj

I recently read something about a VPN server called "Hamachi". It's supposed to be a very clean , easy to use and setup VPN server. You might want to try it out.

Cheers
Arvind

Thanks guys I will take a look at both of these.

Ok I have installed Hamachi on my FC6 machine. I was able to install it with no problem and I was able to get my mac client to connect to it. But I am not sure how to use the Hamachi client well enough to know what I am doing.

When I am on my local network, I connect via my Hamachi client and I see my linux server show up in my network. I shared a tmp directory in my local account using the SMB UI (System -> Administration -> Server Settings -> Samba) but that folder does not show up even after restarting the hamachi client.

When I connect directly to that samba share without going through the Hamachi VPN, I at least get the log in prompt but I am constantly told my login is not correct (a problem for a different forum).

Can anyone tell me the following:

1. How can I connect to my network at home using the Hamachi VPN?
I didn't see a place where I could specify an IP address to connect to via VPN. When I connected locally, I just put in my network name and it magically found it. But what do I do when I am not in the house?

2. How can I force my connections through Hamachi?
How do I connect to my linux server via ssh or vnc or any other way that I would like?

3. How do I change the default port that Hamachi runs on?
Because I have a netgear router that I don't think supports opening a port network wide, For each machine that I run Hamachi server on, I would need to use a different port number to get through the router to connect to those machines.

Thanks for any help.

Hey LmcilWain,
I havent installed Hamachi myself but from what I read I'll try and answer as best as I can.

1.If you're not home and need to access your home PC you'll need to install Hamachi on the source PC.So for eg. If you have a laptop and are in China and want to access your PC in the US you'll have to install Hamachi on your laptop. While this might sound strange its the way Hamachi works.

PC A ---> PC B I believe is actually split into:

PC A --> Hamachi Server
PC B is permanently on in the US
The Hamachi server negotiates the connection so that you now take a path:

PC A --> Hamachi Server --> PC B instead of a direct PC A --> PC B

Not really sure about how exactly Ssh or VNC would work though with Hamachi.

You might want to ask around here:

http://forums.hamachi.cc/

Finally you might also want to read these posts a bit carefully. There are people here who believe its not totally secure.

http://www.digg.com/software/A_great..._home_computer
digg.com/security/Secure_VNC_with_Hamachi

Cheers
Arvind

Thanks for all the advice, I will read more carefully. I will try to understand and read more carefully.

Another nice and easy to setup tool is ssl explorer
http://sourceforge.net/projects/sslexplorer/

Thanks for this suggestion PK21. It looks like hamachi is on the right track but I just can't get it to work to save my life. I have been googling around and it seems tons of people have the same issue I have but no one seems to have an answer for it (connecting to the hamachi network but not able to access any shares or connect to the machine broadcasting the network). I mailed their support and hopefully they will get back to me. This was my second time emailing them, first time I didn't get a response.