Printing to local (non-vpn) printer while connected to vpn

[curt ellmann]

Is there a way to print to a printer on the local network
from a computer that is connected to a VPN? When I am
connected to the VPN, I do not seem to be able to connect
to either the computers on my local ethernet, or to the
printers which are also connected to the ethernet. Is
there a way to set some kind of routing information or
netmask so that windows knows that the local network
computers should be contacted without going through the
VPN software?

Thanks.

 

[Bill Grant]

It depends on how your local network is configured. If your local LAN is
all on one segment (and in one IP subnet) it should work without change. If
your local subnet is segmented, you may have trouble.

When you make a dialup connection (RAS or VPN), your existing default
route is disabled and replaced by a default route to the RRAS server through
the point to point connection. So all traffic for IP addresses not in the
local subnet will be sent over the link.

 

[Curt Ellmann]

Bill,

Thanks for the response. This sounds promising.

My home network is a single segment (192.168.254.x) My
VPN connection goes through my internet provider (cable)
to another internet-connected network. I have a router
that connects my home network to the cable modem.

Based on what you said about the default route being
replaced, does that mean that there will (or should) ne
other routes to computers on the local (192.164.254.x)
network? How can I see that routing table in windows?
Is there a way to alter the routing table?

Thanks -curt.

 

[Bill Grant]

If your local LAN is all on one segment and in one IP subnet, changing
the default route should not affect anything. All machines are directly
connected and don't use routing to see each other. They communicate directly
"on the wire". Check that you can in fact ping a local machine (by its IP
address) while the VPN connection is up.

Rather than routing, it is likely that your problem is with name
resolution. Can you ping local machines by name when the connection is up?