VPN Tunnel Workflow Examples

Example 1: Creating Production Tunnel

Scenario: Factory needs VPN access to 5 gateways and 10 users

Steps:

1. Navigate to VPN → Click CREATE

2. Name: "Factory_Production_VPN"

3. Organization: "Manufacturing Plant A"

4. Add 5 devices:

• Gateway_A (Network Forwarding: ENABLED - has PLCs on LAN)

• Gateway_B (Network Forwarding: ENABLED - has sensors on LAN)

• Gateway_C (Network Forwarding: DISABLED - standalone)

• Gateway_D (Network Forwarding: ENABLED - has HMI on LAN)

• Gateway_E (Network Forwarding: DISABLED - standalone)

• Add 10 users (engineers and managers)

• Click CREATE

• Navigate to Tunnel Overview page

• Click START button (process begins running)

• Notify users to download VPN client and connect

Result: 15 allocated clients (5 devices + 10 users), 238 remaining slots

Example 2: Maintenance Procedure

Scenario: Need to add 2 new devices during maintenance window

Steps:

1. Navigate to tunnel Overview page

2. Click STOP button (stop process cleanly)

3. Wait for "Not-Running" status

4. Go to Devices tab

5. Click Add button

6. Select 2 new devices

7. Configure Network Forwarding

8. Click ADD

9. Verify devices appear in table

10. Click START button (restart process)

11. Test connections with VPN client

Result: Clean device addition without disrupting other connections

Example 3: Emergency Disable

Scenario: Security incident requires immediate VPN shutdown

Steps:

1. Navigate to tunnel Overview page

2. Click DISABLE button

3. Confirm action

4. Immediate Effect:

• Tunnel Status → Disabled

• Process → Exited

• All users disconnected

• No new connections possible

• Investigate security issue

• When resolved:

• Click ENABLE button

• Click START button

• Notify users to reconnect

Result: Complete VPN access shutdown in seconds

---⚠️ Critical Warning: If tunnel is Running and you click Disable:

1. Process automatically stops

2. All active connections immediately terminate

3. Users may lose work or experience disruption

4. Use only during maintenance windows or emergencies

Common Use Cases:

• Temporary Suspension: Disable tunnel during security incident

• Maintenance: Disable before major configuration changes

• Preparation for Deletion: Must disable before deleting tunnel