using a secure vpn

[yag]

The company i just joined use a secured VPN called stormshield.
Unfortunately, stormshield just works on windows.
Fortunately, idon't have windows on my machine, i have arch linux. But for some specific software to work, i have a n XP running in a little VB.
So i installed stormshield on this VB ... ok ... but the connexion get refused by the server.
I guess it's a networking issue, so i've tried replacing NAT by bridge : it does'nt change anything, stormshield won't be allowed to connect.
Has anyone an idea about solving vpn issues ?
Thanks already,

[scottgus1]

Have you been successful in attaching any physical Windows PCs to the Stormshield VPN? Maybe it isn't Virtualbox, just something you're not configuring right with the VPN account.

FWIW, all network/gateway "house" routers use NAT, and services within the LAN can initiate communications to servers on the web. So theoretically you could put the VPN client in the guest, using Virtualbox's NAT, and the VPN client would be allowed to connect to the corporate network through NAT. Theoretically....

[yag]

Yes i've been successful connecting a w7 machine to this network- but it's a netbook, so i then get display issues with the remote desktop connection. Nothing's easy.

[AntiNSA]

Astill VPN works in Linux and I use it on my host system daily with win10 guest from China.

[yag]

Thanks, but i'm not the host and i have no power to influence the choices they make. They have invested pretty much money on their brand new system, i guess they won't change for a while. All i can do is on the client side of the vpn, So the question is : how can i connect to a stormshield firewalled vpn, from an XP virtual box on a linux host.

[scottgus1]

Yag, "host" refers to the PC you run Virtualbox on. Your Linux laptop is the "host".

Since you successfully connected a Windows PC, you know what you're doing with the VPN. Since XP is now out of date, might the Stormshield be rejecting because of the OS? Try downloading an evaluation copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft and testing in that. Or borrow a Windows 7 disc from someone and install that in the Virtualbox guest. You can evaluate for a couple days without activating. See if the VPN can connect.

[BillG]

How does your machine connect to the Internet? How did the Windows 7 machine you tested connect to the Internet?

[yag]

Through the same "box", via Wi-fi. Or sometimes tethering with an android phone.

[BillG]

Wireless network could be the problem. Bridged networking can be dicey on WiFi. Can the guest OS see the Internet when it is set to bridged? Does it get a LAN IP from DHCP?

[yag]

yes it works correctly, to use the web browser or download from sourceforge for instance. It is DHCP.
When i was on site, connected directly to the intranet, using the remote desktop worked, too. Only vpn doesn't.