Leaping Bytes, LLC proud to announce the start of AlmostVPN 1.0 Public Beta Program.
Only 3 months late :-) , it is finally here!!!
NOTE You do not have to uninstall 0.9.x in order to try version 1.0.
Rules of engagement
- This is Official download page for the program.
- New builds will be published quite often, so when filing trouble tickets, please try them against latest/greatest version first.
- When opening trouble tickets, please make sure that you select 1.0 for the Version.
- Please read notes for each build and do not open trouble tickets about the thing if these notes state that the thing should not work.
- Please use AlmostVPN News Group for anything which is not exactly 'trouble ticket' (ideas/concerns/grumbling...) .
- This is beta quality software, so it is not advisable to use it in production environment.
- Do not be alarmed that it is packaged as an application. This is done for ease of debugging only. Final version will be packaged as Preference Pane (and application)
- Uninstall instructions for v 1.0 could be found here
How To
Ask me a How To question and I will add it to this list:
- How to create simple Tunnel
- How to create simple Tunnel to remote Host (other then SSH server)
- How to use host alias
Release Notes : Beta 7 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200608031308.tar.gz
What is new
"Quick Config" button is back. And it hooked to much improved "Quick Config" dialog. It was extended to support functionality new to 1.0 ( like printer/fax and file operations ). Also, import from command line was greatly improved. Now it will show you exactly which options have been accepted/ignored/flaged. AlmostVPN 1.0 can import preferences from variety of applications:
- AlmostVPN 0.9.x
- SSH Tunnel Manager ( v 1.x and 2.x )
- SSH Keychain
- JellyfiSSH
- SSH Agent ( tunnel definitions )
I was very unhappy with the way AlmostVPN v1.0 implement terminal sessions (up until now it used to use java based terminal emulator). Beta 7 switch to standard Terminal.app.
What was fixed
- Ticket #177, #197, #198. Import from 0.9, jellyfiSSH, SSH Agent
- Ticket #203. Console sucks
- Ticket #206. Crash on Intel ( this one is "on probation". I think I have fixed it, but I still waiting to hear from the person who opened it ).
Release Notes : Beta 5 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200606291006.tar.gz Updated: Does not require Java 1.5
What is new
Update: Ask password/passphrase is functional now.
This update does not require Java 1.5 installed on the system.
NOTE: If you tried previous versions, you will need restart back-end ( "Preferences" tab, "Restart" button in "back-end" group )
Visually complete. All controls I am planing to have operational for GA are there (but quite a few of them have not been hooked up yet)
Now it is possible to remote Bonjour announced services (like iPhoto and iTunes ).
NOTE: when configuring Bonjour, you will need to enter some data which are not readily available from an application you are trying to access. ( For example, in case of iTunes you will need to know "Machine ID" and "Database ID" ). There are two ways around this problem. You can see these values using any Bonjour Browser (I am using this one). Alternatively, if you try to configure Bonjour item while connected DIRECTLY to the sub-net where corresponding service is running, AlmostVPN will attempt to retrieve all needed values automatically.
Release Notes : Beta 4 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200605301105.tar.gz
What was fixed
Bunch of small (and not so small) bugs. I could fix even more bugs if anyone will provide any kind of feedback on the product.
What is new
It is packaged as Preference Pane again!!!
Functional traffic utilization charting.
What does not Work
Quite a few things still do not work, but things should speed up now, so stay tuned.
Release Notes : Beta 3 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200605231005.tar.gz
What was fixed
"Dead after 7 starts" problem fixed
What is new
Support for "automatic" profile start/stop (at boot/at login)
"Proper" reaction on sleep/fast user switch
'Fire and forget" profiles (very useful for files upload/download)
Working Monitor/Log page
New icons
What does not Work
Quite a few things still do not work, but things should speed up now, so stay tuned.
Release Notes : Beta 2 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200604271304.tar.gz
What is new
Files related functionality have been implemented. It is possible to configure profile which will upload/download/execute file of your choice.
Printers related functionality partially implemented. It is possible to print to "IPP" printer (printer shared via CUPS == Apple or almost any Linux ).
What does not Work
I really wanted to be able to do remote Faxing, but so far I was quite unsuccessful. I will keep digging.
Release Notes : Beta 1 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200604031104.tar.gz
What was fixed
Biggest problem and Most obvious problem of Beta 0 are fixed now.
What is new
Now it is possible to choose to 'use Bonjour' for Drives. If you do so, than AlmostVPN will not mount the drive automatically, but instead will "publish" it via Bonjour, so you will be able to see it in 'Finder/Network" and mount when you need it in "normal" way (by clicking connect)
What does not Work
This build will not work on Panther. Sorry. I will rectify this problem with next build.
Release Notes : Beta 0 AlmostVPN1.0Beta-200603232203.tar.gz
This is initial build of AlmostVPN 1.0. Functionally this build is similar to 0.9.x, but is is not as stable as 0.9.x.
What Works
- "Plain Old Tunnels" (-L)
- AFP and SMB drives access.
- Host aliasing (similar to Almost VPN Connection in 0.9.x). Try to drag the whole host to the profile.
What does not Work
- Compare to 0.9.x, you can not setup profile to be started on login
- You can configure AlmostVPN for multi-hope tunnels, but back-end does not support it yet.
- Reverse tunnels (-R) do not work.
- Widget and Menu Bar integration.
What is new
- Now it is possible to mount AFP drives from more than one remote host at the same time AND use SMB drives even if you have Windows File Sharing ON.
- You can have more than one profile running at the same time
Biggest problem
This build is using plain text file to store passwords (~/.almostvpn.ssp) , so you should not use it in the environment where your home directory could be compromised. Ticket #152 used to track this problem.
Most obvious problem
Sometimes you need to click "Start" button twice to get first profile running. Ticket #153 used to track this problem.
