VPN and no 'NetBIOS Enable': No shares accessible

[Guest]

Two DG834Gv2 modem/router/firewalls are keeping their VPN tunnel up just
fine. (Both ends of the tunnel can ping network resources at the other end
from the command prompt, using IP addresses like 10.xx.xx.xx) RIP-1 is
enabled at both ends for both directions.
Firmware version 2.10.22 has a 'NetBIOS Enable' check box. If this is
checked then 'other end' network resources are accessible by computer name
and by IP address. If it is cleared, then the resources cannot be found.
Later firmware does not have that check box, but has much more reliable
tunnels and ADSL connections (so I am told).
How can I access 'other end' shares/resources without the 'NetBIOS Enable'
box?
All computers use XP Pro SP2, with RIP listening.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

You can not! You need some NetBIOS service running in order for the Name to
IP conversion. If you need to access the resources, then you will need to
access them by IP address. Or you will need to set up dome type of WINS
server (Windows 2000/2003) at both ends, in order to "resolve" the Name to IP
conversion.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the pointers, Yves. I think I am coming to see the questions more
clearly, even if the answers are still quite obscure.

All computers have their TCP/IP -> Advanced -> WINS -> Default: Use NetBIOS
option selected. Is that not a sufficient NetBIOS service? (Rhetorical
question: the answer is obviously 'No'!)

It is only the routers that either do not have (or do not have checked) the
'NetBIOS Enable' option in their VPN Policies. Are you saying that they,
too, must have a NetBIOS service on them?

When the NetBIOS check box (on the routers) is NOT enabled I observe that:

1. From the command prompt I can ping 'other end' computers from 'this end'
computers.
2. I can log on to and print to 'other end' network printers.
Observations 1 & 2 indicate that traffic is getting through the VPN tunnel.

3. The Add Network Place Wizard cannot find 'other end' shared drives or
folders whether I call them \\10.xx.xx.1\data or \\othercomp\data, and I
cannot map the network drives or folders.
4. Using the address http://10.xx.xx.1 in a browser (modelled on the printer
log-in addresses) does not work. ('Cannot find server or DNS error'.)
This, I think, confirms that I have a name resolution issue.

You mention Win 2000/2003 as a WINS server. Can Win XP Pro provide the
service I need? Are there other work-arounds? If so, please tell me how.