SBS VPN Setup Question

[jplahitko]

If I am in the wrong forum, please let me know.
This is a VPN client to home network configuration issue.

Network layout is as follows:
Cable modem > Linksys 4 port wireless router.

I have two desktop units running Win2000 and WinXP respectively. Both belong to workgroup "mshome".
The linksys is the DHCP server. This continues to work well for us.

Recently I purchased a new server computer that runs Windows Small Business Server 2003. I use it as a test server for software and web development. I purchased SBS since it was bundled with SQL2000 server, Exchange and provides remote access. The server has one NIC and is configured as the domain controller for mydomain.com.

I get around my ISP's dynamic IP by using No-IP.com's client network monitor to update their DNS servers.

The SBS machine is working as planned by serving my websites, providing email through exchange and remote access to the "company website", etc.

For various reasons, we do not want to stop using the mshome workgroup.

I am attempting to establish a VPN between my place of employment and my home server. I have also tried from another home network that utilizes a cable modem to inksys topology as well. I get a 721 error from work and error 52 from the other home network.

Error 721: Remote computer not responding.
Error 52: Duplicate name exists on network. The static IP address assigned to RAS is the same as the IP assigned to the NIC in the same computer.

The questions are:

Is it possible to setup VPN for mydomain.com with this configuration?

Do I need two NIC's or is there a configuration for one?

Is there a source that can take me step by step?

Please let me know if you need other information.

Thank you

 

[msworld]

I am confused about this configuration. Are all computers in the same subnet?

If you want to setup VPN for accessing it from outside, you don't need two NICs. If you want to separate this network as two LANs, you do need two NICs. However, you don't need VPN. You just use the SBS as a router to connect to mshome.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on

http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[jplahitko]

I believe the answer to your question is yes; they are all in the same subnet.

I want to be able to access and write files to the SBS server remotely. I thought VPN was the answer.

As to whether I want to separate into two LANs, I only want to do what is necessary to access the SBS from outside the network without disturbing the present network anymore than is necessary. I am looking for the best and most economical way to do that.

 

[jplahitko]

FYI

I am able to VPN into my SBS server from inside my network since I forwarded port 1723 to my SBS server. However, I am unable to connect from here at work.

After reading countless forums and howto's, I have come to believe it may be one of two possibilities. I have a Linksys WRT54GS router that may need new firmware. I read that there have been problems with PPTP Pass-through on these models. The other possibility is that both ends of the VPN are in the same subnet. Work is 192.168.2.xxx and home is 192.168.1.xxx.

I am not network savy. Are these in the same subnet, and is that a problem?

Since my original post, I have learned how to use Remote Desktop and Remote Web Workplace to transfer files. This lessens my need for VPN. However, VPN has become sort of a challenge and I would like to solve this issue. Does anyone have any other ideas before I call it quits?

 

[msworld]

1. yes, you may need to upgarde firmware for WRT54GS.

2. The same subnet is not issue. Only using same IP address is the issue. So you are OK if you are using 192.168.2.0/24 and 192.168.1.0/24.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on

http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[jplahitko]

Thank you Bob, very much, for your help. If I get it figured out I will update the thread for others to benefit.