Connecting LAN's

You have a few options. If you have some sort of a server you can setup a VPN to connect the two. That is the more complicated option however it will completely connect the two. An easier method is using something like no-ip.com. They are a company that allows users with dynamic ips to still host servers. A small piece of software updates there db's whenever your ip changes. They also supply you with some sort of host name that will always redirect to that ip. You can then setup some simple FTP, Web, or file servers from there.

The DHCP should not be much of a factor if the systems are up all the time. The IP won't change unless you shutdown and restart after the expiration period. Short restarts should not even affect it. The problem is your routers probably use NAT and unless you have an expensive router, it won't let you mangage the individual IPs. The other question is security. Do you need a secure connection and to keep the world from sharing your files. You really need to setup a VPN.

I have a customer using Sonic Firewall VPN routers on each end with a CABLEONE interenet connection at each end. This cable company doesn't assign static IPs either. The VPN puts static IPs on both networks and tunnel thru the Internet. Works well, but beware they license on number of users. This customer has a 10 user setup. They have 9 PCs and 3 print servers at one location. Any device that has a gateway reference counts as a user. We had to remove some print servers and PCs Gateway address which means they don't work thru the Internet or inter-office. Allow for growth when setting it up or be prepared to upgrade down the road.

Hi

I would check with the ISPs and see if they have static IP addresses they set up for the cable modems. Most do, for a nominal fee. This would keep everything simpler, if this is the case.

I disagree with answer #2 about a cable modem keeping the same IP address when it is dynamicly assigned. True, in most instances it will. However this is not a certainty. When the new lease is obtained for an IP address, it may or not not receive the same IP address it already had. The DHCP server will assign it any available IP address that is not in use, but not necesarily the same one it had. The idea behind DHCP is maintain connection, not consistency in IP addresses per machine. Static IP addresses are designed for that.

I hope this helps

Throw away the Linksys boxes if they are not VPN capable. Get something like a sonicwall or Cisco PIX (preferred) at both locations and setup the VPN using 3des. Works everytime, you will need two static IP's from the ISP (ask them for a "STICKY" IP, they will charge you more for it) and your two LANs need to be on different subnets to route. If they can't get you the static ip's call your dsl or other broadband provider - they love to take business away from each other.

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