VPN connected ... but What am I missing?

[tempgal]

Hi --

I'm trying to be able to connect from work to my home computer. Both are
running XPSP2. I have the home computer configured as the server and I
believe that configuration to be correct because I have in the past been
able to connect to it with my laptop computer.

The desktop at work is configured as the client.

Both computers have an "always on" DSL connection with Bellsouth/ATT.

The selected protocol is PPTP VPN. The port on the home computer is 1723.
It is allowed in the Windows Firewall.

From work, it appears that I can connect and be properly authorized. Both
Properties and the connection icon in the systray indicate that I am
connected.

I left the connection on when I left work and my home computer also shows
that I am connected, both in Properties and with the connection icon in the
systray.

So ... what might be possible reasons why can't I see any of the resources
of my home computer?
Possibly relevant is that my work computer does not find my home computer
when I do a search and typing in http://mystaticIP doesn't work either.
From work, have tried shutting off the Windows Firewall on the work
computer, but that made no difference.

While checking further the settings on the home computer, regarding the
properties for the VPN connection, I saw an option saying something like
"let the calling computer select its own IP". I don't have that checked.
Could this be my problem?

Thanks.

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

After establishing the VPN, the VPN server should have two IP addresses. Can
you ping the VPN server PPTP IP?

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[tempgal]

Not sure where I get those addresses from.

I have a 192.168.1.96 address for my home computer.

I tried pinging that after my VPN connection was allegedly connected and I
cannot.

Is that what you meant? If not, where do I get those addresses from?

Thanks.

Zan

 

[Guest]

Often overlooked is the need for Protocol 47 forwarding at the router as well
as port 1723.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/20274/20274.html

Protocol 47 handles the data, port 1723 the login, and this is why you can
apparently connect OK but no data flows.

Many of the cheaper routers do not handle protocol-forwarding correctly.
OTOH if the router describes itself as 'VPN Ready' then this is usually what
it refers to.

It's also possible the broadband-provider's system (at either end) may not
pass special protocols.

In may ways SSH, Zebedee or similar tunnelling protocols are better options,
as they need only one standard TCP port. The issue with these is that
forwarding a file-sharing (SMB) session is not quite so easy. Possible, but
not easy.

 

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

On the VPN client, you should have a VPN connection icon, right click on it
to open it and then check the details. That will give you VPN server IP
address. Ping the VPN server IP.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com