VPN Connection

[Guest]

I'm trying to help my sister set up a VPN connection from her work to home
for file access. In doing so, I'm trying to connect my computer to hers
first so I can figure out how to do this.

I have successfully set up the VPN connection on both machines, I can log in
and connect to her computer.

However, once connected, I cannot figure out how to access the shared
folders on her machine. I have a system tray icon that shows a good
connection, with bytes being transferred back and forth, but I cannot see her
machine in My Network Places, Explore, or anywhere else. I've tried the UNC
path in RUN, and tried her IP address in Internet Explorer.

Where do I need to look to be able to actually see her computer?

Hers is XP Home, mine is XP Pro.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Adam Thompson]

However, once connected, I cannot figure out how to access the shared
folders on her machine. I have a system tray icon that shows a good
connection, with bytes being transferred back and forth, but I cannot see her
machine in My Network Places, Explore, or anywhere else. I've tried the UNC
path in RUN, and tried her IP address in Internet Explorer.

Where do I need to look to be able to actually see her computer?

I've not got a huge amount of experience with XP Home, but there's a
couple of things you should check.

Firstly, if the XP Home Machine is running SP2, there's a good chance
the Windows Firewall is enabled. This might be scuppering your
attempts to connect to her PC. Also check for 3rd party firewalls
which might be running, and check to see if any VPN client of hers
might be running a firewall or host hardening program.

Secondly, try to ping the ip address - and see if that works or not.
If you can't ping her and her firewall is either allowing ICMP, or is
turned off, you've got some more serious connection problems to
address.

The next thing to bear in mind is that XP Home will probably be using
"Simple File Sharing" - so connections to shares like C$ aren't going
to work since you'll be authenticating as 'Guest'.

You can turn off Simple File Sharing if you want - see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040 to find out how.

Finally, if you want to see the PC in Network Neighbourhood, you might
like to try adding an entry for it in your LMHOSTS file.

HTH,


Adam.

 

[Robert L [MVP - Networking]]

Also, it is better to have WINS for browsing over VPN. This search result may help,

Computer browser over VPNComputer browsing over VPN involves routers, multiple segments and multihomed servers. It is generally recommended that you implement WINS for name ...
http://www.howtonetworking.com/VPN/browsingovervpn0.htm


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
I'm trying to help my sister set up a VPN connection from her work to home
for file access. In doing so, I'm trying to connect my computer to hers
first so I can figure out how to do this.

I have successfully set up the VPN connection on both machines, I can log in
and connect to her computer.

However, once connected, I cannot figure out how to access the shared
folders on her machine. I have a system tray icon that shows a good
connection, with bytes being transferred back and forth, but I cannot see her
machine in My Network Places, Explore, or anywhere else. I've tried the UNC
path in RUN, and tried her IP address in Internet Explorer.

Where do I need to look to be able to actually see her computer?

Hers is XP Home, mine is XP Pro.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Guest]

XP's firewall is turned off, and her McAfee firewall has an entry to allow me
access.

Despite network connections showing a good connection, I cannot ping either
her IP address nor computername.

Simple file sharing is turned on, and one folder on her machine is shared.

I have a small amount of experience with networks, but no experience
whatsoever with WINS or LMHOSTS. Could you please expound on how to set
these up?

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Still looking for some help. I understand that the "outer" VPN connection is
separate from an "inner" pipe, or connection; I need to set up IP addresses
for the inner connection. How do I do this?