* SSL-Explorer available for download from SourceForge
There is a lot of open source code out there, including one for SSL VPNs. Called SSL-Explorer, it is available free from SourceForge and runs on Microsoft and Linux platforms.
While it doesn’t offer all the add-on features of commercial SSL products, it does support some basic remote access capabilities that make SSL VPNs attractive. For instance, it supports file sharing and Microsoft Web access as well as Active Directory for authentication.
It also supports certain forms of remote control, meaning remote users can actually manipulate their desktop via an Internet connection. This feature can also be used by administrators as a tool to troubleshoot remote machines.
It lacks such niceties as granting of granular privileges to users, which limits the number of resources individuals have access to. It supports only two categories, general-user access and administrative access. It also doesn’t support peripheral security features such as software to check whether remote machines are configured in compliance with corporate security policies.
This is not a platform that is ready for corporate deployment, but it does have value. The software is still in beta testing, so anyone using it is working with code that is still being refined. But for those who enjoy being involved in developmental work, this might be of interest.
Also, those looking to play with SSL as a remote access technology can get their hands in for free; they don’t even need dedicated server hardware. Hands-on understanding of the basics is a sound way to start exploring a technology.
