RQM and VPN

Here is what I could find - not RQM but close:

Question
Can you use IBM Rational ClearQuest non-Web clients over a wide area network (WAN) or virtual private network (VPN)?

Answer
Using the local client software to work with ClearQuest in a WAN environment or over a VPN is not supported. The performance in this environment is likely to be unsatisfactory, and could also cause database corruption if there is a connection problem.

ClearQuest Web and ClearQuest MultiSite are specifically designed for WAN implementations and can be considered as viable alternatives. ClearQuest MultiSite allows ClearQuest clients to work with local replicas of their ClearQuest databases rather than accessing servers in remote locations.

RQM has a web client, so the comment about CQ below does not apply to
RQM. Also note that a comment like this about one product does not
necessarily apply to any other product. For example, the RTC non-Web
clients (e.g. the Eclipse and Visual Studio RTC clients) are designed to
work over a WAN and VPN.

Can you be more explicit about what you mean by "does not work"? In
particular, what did you try to do, and what error message did you get?

Cheers,
Geoff

On 6/3/2010 9:08 AM, pkrasny wrote:

Here is what I could find - not RQM but close:

Question
Can you use IBM Rational ClearQuest non-Web clients over a wide
area network (WAN) or virtual private network (VPN)?

Answer
Using the local client software to work with ClearQuest in a WAN
environment or over a VPN is not supported. The performance in this
environment is likely to be unsatisfactory, and could also cause
database corruption if there is a connection problem.

ClearQuest Web and ClearQuest MultiSite are specifically designed for
WAN implementations and can be considered as viable alternatives.
ClearQuest MultiSite allows ClearQuest clients to work with local
replicas of their ClearQuest databases rather than accessing servers
in remote locations.

OK, let me be more specific, sorry for the confusion.

If the PC is running active VPN connection, the RQM web client is not accessible. Message is the run of the mill:

Problem loading page


The connection has timed out

The server at thingmabob-thingmabob3.dev.com is taking too long to respond.


* The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
* If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
connection.
* If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure
that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

I understand CQ is not RQM - but it is the only note concerning VPN I could find on IBM Help.

Mozilla 3.6.3 or IE 7.0.5730.13 the result is the same.

OK, let me be more specific, sorry for the confusion.

If the PC is running active VPN connection, the RQM web client is not accessible. Message is the run of the mill:

Problem loading page


The connection has timed out

The server at thingmabob-thingmabob3.dev.com is taking too long to respond.


* The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
* If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
connection.
* If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure
that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

I understand CQ is not RQM - but it is the only note concerning VPN I could find on IBM Help.

Mozilla 3.6.3 or IE 7.0.5730.13 the result is the same.

This is not an RQM error; it is a generic error being thrown by your web browser that literally means "I can't get a response from thingmabob-thingmabob3.dev.com!".

"Official" support or lack of support aside, there is no reason why this shouldn't work. The RQM WebUI is a purely web interface, and from a network perspective is loads just as any web page (via standard HTTP & HTTPS protocols). VPN layers/NAT layers/proxies/etc should not make any difference.

I regularily access RQM servers behind the IBM firewall from my home office or other non-IBM locations, via a VPN client, without any problems. I use AT&T Network client on Windows, as well as Cisco IPSec on both OSX and iPhone OS. In all cases RQM WebUI works 100% :-)

I recommend working with your network or VPN administrator to troubleshoot the connectivity issue. One thing I would check first: can you ping thingmabob-thingmabob3.dev.com (from a command line, using the ping command) when you have the VPN connection open?

We got it resolved. It was just a matter of drilling a hole in a firewall.

Hi, Could you please let us know how to access Web RQM via VPN (we are using Aventail VPN). Your quick advice/suggestion high appreciated.Thanks