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SonicOS 5.8.1 Administrator Guide
SSL VPN NetExtender Overview
This section provides an introduction to the SonicOS Enhanced SSL VPN NetExtender feature.
This section contains the following subsections:
• “What is SSL VPN NetExtender?” on page 932
• “Benefits” on page 932
• “NetExtender Concepts” on page 932
What is SSL VPN NetExtender?
SonicWALL’s SSL VPN NetExtender feature is a transparent software application for Windows,
Mac, and Linux users that enables remote users to securely connect to the remote network.
With NetExtender, remote users can securely run any application on the remote network. Users
can upload and download files, mount network drives, and access resources as if they were on
the local network. The NetExtender connection uses a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
connection.
Benefits
NetExtender provides remote users with full access to your protected internal network. The
experience is virtually identical to that of using a traditional IPSec VPN client, but NetExtender
does not require any manual client installation. Instead, the NetExtender Windows client is
automatically installed on a remote user’s PC by an ActiveX control when using the Internet
Explorer browser, or with the XPCOM plugin when using Firefox. On MacOS systems,
supported browsers use Java controls to automatically install NetExtender from the Virtual
Office portal. Linux systems can also install and use the NetExtender client.
After installation, NetExtender automatically launches and connects a virtual adapter for secure
SSL-VPN point-to-point access to permitted hosts and subnets on the internal network.
NetExtender Concepts
The following sections describe advanced NetExtender concepts:
• “Stand-Alone Client” section on page 932
• “Client Routes” section on page 933
• “Tunnel All Mode” section on page 933
• “Connection Scripts” section on page 933
• “Proxy Configuration” section on page 933
• “SonicWALL Mobile Connect” section on page 934
Stand-Alone Client
NetExtender is a browser-installed lightweight application that provides comprehensive
remote access without requiring users to manually download and install the application. The
first time a user launches NetExtender, the NetExtender stand-alone client is automatically
installed on the user’s PC or Mac. The installer creates a profile based on the user’s login
information. The installer window then closes and automatically launches NetExtender. If
the user has a legacy version of NetExtender installed, the installer will first uninstall the old
NetExtender and install the new version.