Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

VPN

0 helpful
11 replies

by hydveda

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hi, I established a VPN connection and it went successful, however the computers on both sides cannot browse any files. What could be the problem. Any suggestions?
regards.

11 replies

by rewrite

A little more detail would be good but here's a general place to start. Do the users on both sides have accounts with appropriate permissions set up?

Cheers.

RW

by hydveda

Yes, users on both sides have appropriate permissions. I am able to logon to server but cannot find the server either using \\server_name from run or network neighbourhood or search from computers. Any idea?

Regards,
Sundeep.

by razz2

Start with a step-by-step test of the connection.

You can log in you said. Great.

Can you ping the ip of the server?

Then ip works fine.

Can you ping the name of the server?

Then resolution works fine.
But, If not then what is the DNS setup on the local and remote
LAN's? What about WINS if the OS's are older?

You said you can not connect using \\servername, or network
neighborhood. The Network Neighborhood term tells me that
the OS is 98 perhaps. So, I would not expect the remote LAN to
show up because the Browse Master is remote and you seeing it
could take awhile. If there is a WINS server on the remote LAN
then thell the VPN to use that WINS server. Same with DNS.

If all is OK there then what about a net view \\servername or try
connecting without using the name...
\\serveripaddress\sharename and see what happens. It should
show you the shared resources on that server. Oh Yeah, I am
assuming that you do have shares created.

Good Luck,

razz

by hydveda

I clinet which i am using to login to my server is Windows XP and there is no WINS or DNS. Do i need to specify WINS or DNS in the clients configuration settings? I do have shares created. I have got 10 computers at my work place and they are all connected through LAN. So shares have already been assigned.
Do you reckon its the WINS and DNS, I do not have WINS and DNS server on my LAN. Any suggestions?

Regards.

by p.j.hutchison

You definately need DNS to use browsing especially across different subnets as names are not transferable across subnets.
You can set up HOSTS file on each PC with name and IP addresses but DNS would work better.

by sgt_shultz

could this be the one where you have to check 'use remote gateway' in network properties on vpn client?

by razz2

Yes, You need DNS , or WINS, or a HOSTS file for
name to ip resolution. If your Server is a real server
then set it up there. If you are P2P and the server is
really another XP box then you could look at 3rd party
options or using HOSTS files.

Since there is none all netbios names are being
broadcast and that bradcast is making it through a VPN
tunnel. You could enable netbios over tunnel
depending on the vpn hardware/software, but there are
security concerns there.

My guess is you could connect using \\ipaddress\
sharename. You could use that for now.

Good Luck,

razz

by jimjennings

Using the hosts file will help with remote DNS resolution, and setting up a lmhost file with all of the servers or PCs that you are looking for will help browsing for the desired file locations. For a windows workgroup or domain the lmhost file is much more beneficial in finding windows resources through the vpn connection.

This discussion is closed to new replies.