Access files via VPN

[zeuseason]

I am a newbie at this stuff so please bear with me....

I would like to access my work files at home. I've set up what I believe a working VPN connection between the two computers (both XP, one pro and one home). I can connect showing as send and recieving on both computers but I can't seem to 'see' or access the shared files on my network at work. I've looked under my network places and there isn't any of my shared files/printers I have setup. I have tried to map a network drive to no avail. Is there a specific place to access my work files? Or is it just thru windows explorer? Please help!

 

[deeno]

Try to access the other computer by IP address rather than exploring to it. For instance, if the remote computer is at the address 192.168.1.100, in the address bar of an explorer window, type \\192.168.1.100
You should also be able to map the network drives using the IP address of the remote system.

The reason it isn't working now is probably not any working name resolution between the networks. This can be corrected by using a DNS or WINS server, or by using your LMHOSTS file, but using an IP Address should be fine.

Hope that helps...

deeno

 

[zeuseason]

Oddly enough, that works! I can access the computers in IE using their ip's. Is there a reason, do you think, why these computers don't show up on my network places? I would like to setup to print on my computer network, but they only show in IE. Thanks for the input and I shall keep pluggin away!

 

[gacollier]

As usual, I think Deeno is on the money with his post.

Zeus,

It sounds like what you're saying is that you can't see computers under "Network Places" when trying to browse your network. Just because the computers don't show up doesn't mean that you can't connect by name also. It just means that you're not getting a browse list from your networks "Master browser". What happens when you hit "Start", "Run", and then type the machine name UNC address, (example: \\computername)? Do you get a list of shares offered by that system? If not, as Deeno suggest, use the IP, (example: \\192.168.1.100).

 

[deeno]

I doubt that Zeus will be able to connect by computer name since it doesn't sound like he has a DNS or WINS server running. If he wants to access the computers by the computer name, he will need to use one of those types of name resolution services or he will need to setup a host file on each of his computers (LMHOSTS file).

Depending on how the VPN is actually configured, it is possible to have the computers show up in the network places area. For instance, I have established a client-to-gateway VPN connection to my office. At my office there is a domain. I was actually able to join my laptop to the domain through the VPN (much to my surprise). Once I joined to the domain, I was able to view the computers in the domain through the network places. This only happens when I login to the domain and does not work when I login to the local laptop account.

I doubt from the sounds of it that this type of setup is feasible for what you have going. And that isn't really a problem. Personally, I hardly ever login through the domain even though it is an option. It just becomes irritating when the VPN connection drops when connected that way.

Anyway, back to your issue. As gacollier pointed out, you should be able to connect to the nodes on your network through the IP address. You should be able to configure printer sharing as long as you are able to connect to the print server that is hosting the printer. If you can get to it from the IP address then you shouldn't have any problem.

Go ahead and post back if you have some questions. It sounds like you have done fairly well getting your connection established. I think that what you are attempting should be no problem (though I don't think from your setup that you'll be able to browse through network places).

deeno

 

[zeuseason]

I am able to connect to the files and printers on my far-away network at work. I added the printers, along with print drivers, to my home computer and the files/folders I have shared I can also access with a little work around.

Everything is working great so far!

I have one more interesting question and I never thought this would be a problem. My home computer has a cable connection to the internet while my work computer has a 128k dsl connection. It appears that whenever I am connected to my work computer and try to access the internet, my computer is really slow (using the dsl service through my work at 14k per sec). Is there a way to have my cake and eat it too?......j/k....is there a way to still access the internet on my home computer using my cable connection AND still connect to my work computer NOT using it's dsl service?

I think if I set my work computer internet sharing off then maybe my home home computer will not connect thru the internet, thru my work computer to access the internet. Basically have multiple connections using the same connection. I will have to keep my fingers crossed and change some settings!

 

[gacollier]

Zeus,

On your remote computer...

Hit "Start" then "Settings" then "Control Panel".

Open "Network and dial-up connetions"

Right click your VPN conneciton and hit "Properties"

Select the "Networking" tab.

Double click "Internet protocol (TCP/IP)"

Pick the "Advanced" button.

Under the "General" tab, deslect "Use defualt gateway on remote netowrk".

This should do it.

 

[zeuseason]

Thank you all for your help!

That did it Gacollier. I can have my cake and eat it too. It's amazing what a simple check box will do and most of the time that is what it seems to boil down to.

Thanks again!