Simultaneous VPN & Lan connectivity using 2 NICs

[jcsayre]

Goal: connect NIC 1 to my LAN (which has internet connectivity through a router); connect NIC 2 to a VPN (also through my router) - I am NOT trying to run a VPN server at home, nor am I using this PC for any serving - it's only a client/workstation.

Status: I can connect to the VPN or to the LAN using either NIC, but I cannot seem to run simultaneously on both networks.

Configuration: Win2K Pro (non-server) SP2 + all critical updates; SMC BR7004 Router (same as Linksys); 1 USB ethernet NIC (this is the one that I want to put on the VPN); 1 PCI ethernet NIC (this one should be on the LAN).

Here are my issues/questions:
1 - When configuring the VPN connection, I expected to be able to specify "Use USB NIC" or "Use PCI NIC" or "Use either NIC," but I don't see anything resembling this. Am I off base on this?

2 - Is there a way to "bind" (could be, but not necessarily the actual W2K "bind" command) a NIC to a particular connection? or vice-versa?

3 - I read that if the network I connect to through VPN doesn't allow internet access, then I am out of luck using the internet while connected to the VPN UNLESS I have two NICs. In theory, what I read means that I should be able to do exactly what I want - but I don't know how.

Okay I hope this is enough details for someone to help, without being too detailed or rambling so much that it's annoying. I can provide additional details if needed, but I would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions that someone can/is willing to offer. Thanks in advance.

-jcs

 

[mda1]

Are you using one physical network (lan) to get to that router?

You need to give more detail. What is the VPN your connecting to and is this workstation a member of a domain/

 

[jcsayre]

1 Router (PPPoE) dynamicly assigned IP address by ISP.
1 PC with 2 NICs. Both NICs get IPs assigned by router (DHCP).

The VPN that I am connecting to is my office network. I can connect to it without any problems using either NIC. The office uses Netware, so I am not on a domain there, and I am not on a domain at home. Is this enough? I could provide a Visio of it, if that would help.

 

[mda1]

You should not need two network cards to do what you want.

I have a PPPoE DSL router at home and I have one NIC that gets a DHCP address from the router which gives access to the internet. I can attached to VPN servers through that connection no problem. Function just like I'm on the network.

Try just one NIC and see if you can accomplish what you want. Using two nics is usually for one of three scenario's:

1. Routing
2. Connecting one pc to two physical networks and not routing.
3. Load balancing the network cards.

There are others setups but these are usually the main ones.

Mike

 

[jcsayre]

I have no problem connecting to the VPN. My problem is that once I connect to the VPN, I lose my LAN connectivity. If I am on the VPN, I can use office resources, but not home resources. If I am on my home LAN, I can use home resources, but not office resources. What I think I am trying to accomplish is your item #2 in the list - Connecting one PC to two physical networks. I would like to have on NIC on the home network and the other NIC on the VPN network so that I can use both home and office resources at the same time.

Here's a good example of my problem:
When connected to the VPN, I can not use the internet due to office firewall settings. However, I CAN use our ERP package. I cannot pick up my personal e-mail in MS Outlook when on the VPN when I am at home. If I am not connected to the VPN (this probably goes without saying, but I will say it anyway), I CAN use the internet and pick up my personal e-mail on MS Outlook, but I CANNOT use the ERP software. Maybe this text picture will help:

Home PC -> NIC 1 -> Router -> Internet
-> NIC 2 -> Router -> Office (via VPN)

I honestly thought that I would be able to bind the VPN connection to a particular NIC, but that doesn't seem to be how it's done. Hopefully I haven't muddled the issue even more. Thanks for you help.

 

[Guest_imported]

I'm in a similar situation. I've got a Netgear FM114P Wireless Router / Print Server. I can print docs to it great until I connect to my office VPN. I have to print documents to file and then do a Copy /B Filename \\Resource\printer to get it to print.

I'm using a CiscoSystems VPN Client.