i need to be able to access a customer's SQL Server, and ideally their entire LAN, remotely.

They have a firewall/router, but the guy responsible for it is unwilling to open ports for SQL Server, and is unable to support PPTP forwarding.

The admin did open VNC, on a non-stanrdard port, but since they have a dynamic IP it is difficult to find them all the time.

In the past i have created a VPN connection that connects back to our network. But that didn't work so well, since when i need access i have to ask the computer-phobic users to double-click the icon and press Connect

i did try creating a scheduled task that attempts to keep the VPN connection back to our office up at all times by running:

>rasdial "vpn to me"

But after a few months the VPN connection went insane, and thought it was both, and neither, connected an disconnected; and the vpn connection wouldn't work again until the server was rebooted.

Can anyone think of a way where i can access the customer's LAN that doesn't involve

• opening ports on the router
• needing to know their external IP
• customer interaction of any kind

Blah blah blah

• use vpn
• vnc protocol has known weaknesses
• you are unwise to lower your defenses
• it's not wise to expose SQL Server directly to the internet
• you stole that line from Empire

Customer doesn't care about any of that. Customer wants things to work.