IBM Softlayer cloud console access using Windows 10

Having struggled for hours trying to get vpn access working with softlayer and then even longer to get Softlayer's java console software to work I finally managed to get console access working with some help from support.

So firstly, ignore anything on their control panel, pptp does not work with windows 10 nor does their java console which requires IE (not edge) or firefox (but not the current version).

Save yourself a huge amount of pain and download Motion Pro client for Windows

https://speedtest.dal05.softlayer.com/array/MotionProSetup_win32.zip
https://speedtest.dal05.softlayer.com/array/MotionProSetup_win64.zip

Having installed that configure all the vpn connections you will need, the vpn servers can be found on this list.

https://www.softlayer.com/VPN-Access

Copy the link for the server you want and then edit it like so:-

https://vpn.mil01.softlayer.com/prx/000/http/localhost/login

becomes

vpn.mil01.softlayer.com

Use the profile add option in motion pro to create a vpn connection, set the host name to vpn.xxxx.softlayer.com, specify your vpn username and password. You should then be able to connect.

If you don't know your vpn username and password, go to https://control.softlayer.com/account/users/vpn in the control panel, your username should be displayed (if not add one), enable automatic SSL access and set a strong password.

Once you have a vpn connection you need to fire up a VNC viewer such as tight vnc.

You will need to find the VNC connection details, to do this go to your virtual server in the control panel, drill down to the device details by clicking on it and then use the action option on the right and select console access. 

Capture the connection and login details from the pop up window that appears and then close it.

Server Name: myserver.mydomain.com

Address: 10.X.XX.XX Port: YYYY
Username: root Password: 12345678

Now start your vnc viewer and enter the remote host and port as 10.X.XX.XX::YYYY, click on connect, when prompted for the password enter it and the console should appear (no need to enter a username).

You can save the details somewhere secure for each server so all you have to do next time is connect up the saved vpn connection, fire up your vnc viewer, select the correct connection and enter the associated password.