Ranchu2 Homepage
Softwares written and compiled by Jacky
VPN Troubleshooter Version 3.4
Program developed
by: Jacky Chan
Jacky developed the VPN Troubleshooter to assist users facing technical problem accessing their email via the remote access service including overseas connection via iPass service (applicable to Basic Checks section only). The VPN Troubleshooter included buttons to detect known network connectivity issues. HP FM team will require some information to further diagnose the reported issue.
Quick jump to links:
How VPN Troubleshooter works
Improvements
How to use the Troubleshooter Program
If you are not able to access the Internet via the Hotel Broadband Service: Click at the "Detect IP" button to determine if your notebook is assigned with a valid IP Address from the hotel network (please refer to the Function of each buttons for more information). Click at the "Renew IP" button to request a new IP address from the hotel network when necessary (or restart the notebook).
You have connected and login to the NetProtect VPN but still not able to access your GEMS Lotus Notes email:
1. Click at the "Check Internet" button to verify if your notebook has successfully secured with Singapore Government Network. Do ensure the Internet Explorer Proxy setting is enabled before you click at the above-mentioned button.
2. Click at the "Ping test" and the "Telnet test" buttons to further diagnose the root cause. Hotel Firewall might prevent your notebook from connecting to the Singapore Government Network. Verify with the hotel IT Support if the ping and telnet test results failed. You may also click at the "Toggle" button under the "Host file - (VPN only / default)" button to force the notebook to look for the GEMS Server.
Can you browse the Internet without connecting to NetProtect VPN? You may access the Internet without connecting to the NetProtect VPN - through the hotel broadband service. However, you are strongly advised to enable to Personal Firewall before accessing the Internet from the hotel broadband service (without secured network connection to the NetProtect VPN). You click at the "Toggle" button to set the proxy off.
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Determine the IP Address assigned to your notebook. |
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Renewing of IP Address assigned to your notebook |
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NOTE: (a) If IP Address assigned to your notebook started with 10.*.*.*, you will not be able to connect to the NetProtect VPN Service. This is because Singapore Government Network uses 10.*.*.* (it conflict with the environment). You have to connect to iPass and login to the NetProtect VPN in order to access your GEMS Lotus Notes email. (b) If the assigned IP Address start with 127.0.0.1 or 169.*.*.*, check to ensure the network cable connecting to your notebook is secured. Click on the Renew IP button or restart your notebook if necessary. |
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Verify Internet connectivity is available |
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NOTE: (a) Before you are allowed to connect to the NetProtect VPN, please ensure your notebook can access to the internet (either thru hotel broadband service or iPass Overseas connection) ~ this function make use of the Internet Explorer program to check the network connection to the Internet. (b) If your notebook is connected to the hotel broadband service or iPass Overseas dialup service, ensure the Internet Explorer Proxy is disabled before clicking at the “Check Internet” button. (c) If your notebook is already login to the NetProtect VPN, ensure the Internet Explorer Proxy is enable before clicking at the “Check Internet” button |
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Verifying network connectivity from your notebook to the Singapore Government Network. |
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NOTE: (a) Software or Hardware firewall might affect both “Ping test” and “Telnet test” results. (b) Network connection from your notebook to the Singapore Government Network might has disconnected if there is no result displayed after you click at the two button (no red arrow flashing around the globe icon) (c) Try restarting the notebook and re-login to NetProtect VPN again |
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NOTE: (a)
Proxy toggle is applicable for broadband only. |
§ Click at the “Toggle” button under the Proxy server setting to enable and disable the Internet Explorer Proxy. § Click at the “Toggle” button under “Host file – (VPN only / default) “ to modify the configuration to allow network connection for VPN only ~ following dialog box will be displayed. Click at the “OK” button to continue. |
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Improvements
In version 3.4:
- Load profile seperated for GATE1, GATE2 (AMNET) & (CMNET)
In version 3.3:
- Proxy settings auto detects when program launch
In version 3.2:
- Telnet test more user friendly.
In version 3.1:
- Links in About are clickable.
In version 3.0:
- Supports troubleshooting for both GATE2 and GATE, CISCO VPN client and NetProtect client.
In version 2.9:
- Detects and ensure VPN Troubleshooter runs only once.
In version 2.8:
- Display different error messages depending on IP address detected.
In version 2.7:
- Toggle of proxy settings does not work on some profile, resolved.
In version 2.6:
- Ping VPN server to detect IP address improved, faster resolution.
In version 2.5:
- Settings button allows program to be easily customizable.
In version 2.4:
- Program loads and exits faster, eliminated the 1sec log prompts.
In version 2.3:
- Toggles to settings according to vpn.ini instead of toggling only proxy.gov.sg in version 2.2
In version 2.2:
- Detects NetProtect client and prompts not to renew IP address.
In version 2.1:
- Improved layout to see results.
In version 2.0:
- Easier GUI interface.
In version 1.1:
- Seperated all checks into individual checks.
- Improved date and time format in log file
- Minor touch up on the log file
- Profile switching between GATE & GATE2 improved
- Internet connectivity test improved, will auto-retry if fails for the 1st time.
- Entries update in Settings does not delete when clicked cancel.
- Integrated VPN Troubleshooter Configuration into VPN Troubleshooter.
- Able to load GATE2 or GATE server configuration profiles.
- Detects and ensure VPN Troubleshooter runs only once improved.
- Wordings in red colour to highlight alerts.
- Resolved program search for hosts file.
- If Internet Connectivity test fails will launch IE to hotmail.com to confirm.
- Display different error messages for Internet connectivity to toggle proxy settings if NPC is detected running.
- Resolved program hang when hosts file not found in C: drive
- Further enhance error trying to ping VPN server.
- Resolved error trying to ping VPN server.
- Detects if hosts file is restored back to default during exit.
- Detects if NetProtect client is running, will not renew IP address or change hosts file configuration even on the fly.
- Renamed ds1.ca.gov.sg to VPN server instead.
- Added telnet ds1.ca.gov.sg check.
- Resolve ds1.ca.gov.sg IP address and Internet connection test faster.
- Host file now toggles only VPN or back to default.
- Updated Readme with more details.
- INI file introduced for editing settings customizable for different environment.
- Backup proxy settings before overwritting with values in INI.
- Added proxy server settings to toggle enable / disable.
- Split tests to be conducted before and during NetProtect client running in the process.
- Restoring of hosts file now able to select additional VPN or SecureAge settings.
- Program is stand-alone and will work even if installed and run from any directory.
- IP address can be easily detected by clicking on the Detect IP button.
- Interactive screen with buttons to run all checks or select individually.
- Re-creation of host file is customizable.
- Internet connectivity test does not only works in MOT.
Please feel free to feedback to jacky_ckw@engineer.com suggestions & improvements or bugs encountered are welcome.
JKLimited
Ranchu2 is a registered trademark of JKLimited.