What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is how domain names are translated into IP addresses. Y our computer needs access to a DNS server to make the internet “usable”. Without access to DNS your web browser will not be able to find web sites, and you will not be able to receive or send email.

DNS over AccessMyLan

When a user is connected to their office LAN they have access to their office DNS server to do name resolution. But how does this work when connected to AccessMyLan? The answer is, in exactly the same way.

Once a user is connected to AccessMyLan their DNS requests are forwarded to their office network for resolution by the office DNS. This is achieved by passing the DNS requests to the AccessMyLan agent installed in the office. The DNS server available to the agent host machine is the DNS server which will be used. (VPN Agent version 1.10 or later also supports the use of a 'hosts' file on the agent host machine).

Optional DNS configuration using admin website

If the administrator wants to configure which DNS server the VPN should use (i.e. not accept the default DNS server available to the agent host machine) he can do this using the administration website.

1. Login to the administration website at www.accessmylan.com.
2. Click on Network, then Agents, then the agent you wish to configure (DNS can be set on a per-agent basis).
3. Choose “Configure Agent” from the dropdown menu.
4. Expand the VPN DNS server section.
5. Specify the IP address of the DNS server to be used.

Troubleshooting client DNS issues

If a user is having issues resolving DNS take the following steps:

1. Open the user’s AccessMyLan client and click on the Settings button.
   
2. Click on the DNS tab
3. Tick the “Only user VPN’s DNS (recommended).
4. Click OK to close Settings