NetworkHelper

NetworkHelper is a Windows utility that configures your (Windows) VPNs to use split tunneling and sits on the tray and waits for you to connect to or disconnect from them; when this happens, it automatically adds and removes pre-configured routes (using route add and route delete just like you would using the Command Prompt).

Getting started

Download a .zip file with the latest binaries from the releases page.

Usage

• Add an in-depth guide.

• You need to edit NetworkHelperConfiguration.xml with something like this:

  <Vpns>
    <Vpn>
      <Name>My VPN name</Name>
      <DnsSuffix>some.suffix.com</DnsSuffix>
      <Routes>
        <Route>
          <Description>A database server</Description>
          <DestinationIpAddress>192.168.44.33</DestinationIpAddress>
        </Route>
        <Route>
          <Description>A range of workstations</Description>
          <DestinationIpAddress>192.168.45.0</DestinationIpAddress>
          <Mask>255.255.255.0</Mask>
        </Route>
      </Routes>
    </Vpn>
  </Vpns>

  It's essential that the VPN name in this configuration exactly matches the name of the VPN created in Windows.

• When you connect to the VPN named My VPN name NetworkHelper will automatically add those routes; and when you disconnect from it, it will remove them.

• You can also add and remove routes at any time by right clicking on the tray icon.

• When stared, NetworkHelper will search Windows for matching VPNs and configure them to:

  • Use split tunneling.
  • Don't use RAS credentials (to allow some stuff like SQL Server Windows Authentication).
  • Use the provided DNS suffix (if any).

• You can configure NetworkHelper to start with Windows.

• There are more configuration options available, look at Vpn.cs and Route.cs.

Supported environments

NetworkHelper runs on Windows XP and up, both x86 and x64. However, it has only been tested on:

• Windows XP x86
• Windows Server 2008 R2

If you successfully run NetworkHelper on a different Windows version, open an issue to let me know and I'll list it here (or better yet: send a PR!).

Requirements:

• .NET Framework 4.0
• NetworkHelper needs administrator privileges in order to add and remove routes.

Third party libraries that make it possible

• DotRas
• Task Scheduler Managed Wrapper
• log4net