This may become on-topic if I need to learn how to set up a VPN, and especially if I have to have a non-computer savvy person at the other end (using a Windows computer) do something to set up the VPN on their end.
I have a friend about 100 miles away with an IP device (specifically, an Obi 100 VOIP "converter") that is currently not working. I found a workaround for the recent problem caused by, iiuc, changes made by Google Voice which ObiHai / ObiTalk will not accomodate because the Obi 100 is obsolete (they say EOL: End of Life). Aside: The workaround for the most recent problem is to use a service from simonics.com which basically converts between SIP (iiuc, the standard VOIP protocol) and XMPP (which, again, iiuc, is more like something proprietary (or at least special to Google Voice)--they charge a one time fee of $6 or less for access to their servers that make that conversion--the access is "perpetual" or until they go out of business (which they are not planning on, afaict). Oh, I guess I should mention that the other workaround is to buy a new Obi device, in the 200 series, which will presumably work until they EOL that. Back to the point: I would like to try to help them fix their problems (they may have more than one, because they say the Obi hasn't worked for several months). I have started to send them emails with instructions initially to check certain items (is the power light on, does the echo server work, ...) and give me the results. Later I expect to be telling them to go into various configuration screens to make changes. It would be easier if I could do something to access their Obi (on their LAN, connected to the Internet via their cable provider) and check things and make changes as needed. Would a VPN do the job? If so, give me some clues on how hard it might be to set up, both on my end, and their end, where, as I mentioned, they use a Windows computer and are not especially computer savvy. If not, is their something else you can recommend? Thanks!
