CLICK Ethernet PLC - How to connect via a VPN

A Virtual Private Network – or VPN - is a great way to access your CLICK PLC remotely. And it’s super easy to use with the CLICK software, but before we do that, let’s backup and take look at the big picture. Here’s our PC and we want to connect to a CLICK PLC out on the internet someplace. With a VPN, you typically have a router that the CLICK PLC is behind that acts as a VPN server. Then over here you either have a dedicated box that connects to that VPN router or a client app on your PC that connects to that VPN router. I’m using this software approach in this demo and I’m using a popular Cisco VPN Client to do it. In the client app you create a connection to the VPN router that your CLICK is behind using your network specifics. I’ve already created one using my VPN networking details for our demo. The IP Address is blurred out because this is AutomationDirect’s VPN test network and we really don’t need a bunch of folks messing with it. Once you have that setup, you just connect to that VPN router. It will take a few seconds to establish a secure connection to the VPN router. Keep in mind I’m just showing you this to give you a feel for how to get access to a typical VPN router. Your network will probably be different so work with your IT guys to get access to your VPN – AutomationDirect’s tech support can’t help you with that end of things. But, the good news is, once you DO establish the connection to your VPN router, connecting to the CLICK PLC that’s behind that router is easy. Start the CLICK software. We want to connect to a CLICK PLC. Select Ethernet and make sure you have the correct adapter selected if you have more than one. We want this CISCO VPN adapter – right? We want a CLICK PLC that is outside of our local network. The CLICK Software can’t automatically see CLICK PLCs that aren’t local so we need to tell it how to find the CLICK PLC. Click Add, give the new connection a name, the IP Address of the CLICK PLC that is behind the router, and use the default port number. Hit OK. Now we just connect like we always do. And just like that we are now talking to a CLICK PLC that is out on the internet someplace. Easy. If you need any help with the CLICK PLC please contact AutomationDirect’s FREE award winning tech support during regular business hours. But please don’t call them about networking or VPN stuff – they aren’t setup or trained to help you with that. And don’t forget the forums – there are lots of folks there that love to share their years of experience. Again, Just don’t post any questions directed at AutomationDirect’s tech support staff there – they don’t monitor the forums on a regular basis.