Solve : Sharing a VPN connection?

1.	Solve : Sharing a VPN connection?
Answer» Okay, I finally got that censored Local Area Connection thing running, and my two PCs are connected. However, I'm using a VPN connection to access the internet. So, I set that the VPN connection is shared on the network (that is, with the other computer). The one I'm connecting through connects online, internet is working fine, but the other one has no response (FTP, pinging, file accessing is all working). Help?Since no one else has responded, I'll respond as best as I can. Why are you using a VPN to access the internet? I've set up VPNs before to access secure networks, but not just to get internet access. And the VPNs I set up were very specific, or limited to, one computer for security reasons. I would imagine that multiple computers could be set up to use a single VPN, but each would need to be authorized. What VPN software are you using? You don't mention a router. Are you using one?Router is connected to the PC I'm using to access the internet. I'm not using a specific software for VPNs, I created the connection over Windows. It's that type of connection, that's why I'm using VPN. I connect to the VPN server with my username and password, I go through authorization and I'm online. The thing is that it worked when I linked the PC and laptop (PC is using xp and i have win 7 on laptop). I just enabled the homegroup on laptop and EVERYTHING worked fine. This time I have two XP's, just shared the connection on the main one, but the other just can't access it...You didn't answer the question as to why you're using a VPN to access the Internet. What you're doing is the equivalent of taking a flight from your home to a nearby grocery store: overkill. VPNs are used for connecting to the network of a remote location like a workplace. They're not used typically for connecting to the Internet. I don't care if it worked for you in the past. Some people fly their PRIVATE jets to the grocery store and that works for them, but it's still ridiculous to the majority of middle-class society. If you're just trying to connect multiple computers to the Internet, then don't make it harder than it needs to be. Do this: Router --> LAN port 1 ---> Computer 1 Router --> LAN port 2 ---> Computer 2 Router --> Internet/WAN port ---> Cable/DSL modem (or whatever provides your Internet service) Open up a web browser from Computer 1 or Computer 2 (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, whatever), and go to http://192.168.1.1 (or whatever the internal IP address is of your router). Log in with the router's user name and password. What you do from here depends on how your Internet Service Provider allows an Internet connection. If it's PPPoE: Select that from the drop down menu and enter the PPPoE user name and password. If you don't know what this is, contact your Internet Service Provider. If it's DHCP (a dynamic IP address), then you probably don't have to do anything, as "Automatic Configuration (DHCP)" is usually the default. If it's a static IP (rare for consumers, common for businesses), then enter the IP address, Subnet MASK, Default Gateway, and DNS servers. If you don't know this information, contact your Internet Service Provider. If your modem takes care of any of the above three options, then use "Automatic Configuration (DHCP)," as your modem may have an internal IP address (hopefully not the same as your router's or else you'll have routing conflicts and will have to change your router's internal IP address), and may be acting as DHCP server.The thing is that connection to the workplace (by VPN) is used to access the internet. I logon to 10.64.0.1 with my username and password (everything in the VPN connection is configured), and then I can access the internet. The type of connection is PPTP. I have only one LAN port on my router.Quote from: markho10 on August 11, 2010, 09:13:59 AM The thing is that connection to the workplace (by VPN) is used to access the internet. I logon to 10.64.0.1 with my username and password (everything in the VPN connection is configured), and then I can access the internet. The type of connection is PPTP. I have only one LAN port on my router. Interesting. Is this company policy for you to connect to the Internet through a VPN? If not, then removing the check box "Use default gateway on remote network" is your friend here: 1) Right-click the VPN connection, left-click Properties. 2) Go to the Networking tab. 3) Click "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and then click Properties. 4) Click the "Advanced" button. 5) Uncheck that annoying little "Use default gateway on remote network" check box. 6) Click the DNS tab. Add your company DNS server's IP address to the list of DNS servers to use. 7) (Optional, depends on whether your company uses this) Click the WINS tab. Add your company WINS server's IP address to the list of WINS servers to use. Voila! VPN access, and you still use your own Internet connection. If you can't access network resources, then make sure you did #6 and #7 properly. If this is company policy for you to use the Internet over the company's VPN connection (which would be silly, as it would be horribly slow over a VPN due to the upload of anything but a T1 or T3 line), then contact your IT department before doing the steps above. As for your router having only one LAN port...I can think of three reasons for this: 1) It's an older router--has one WAN port and one LAN port. Don't use those for PPTP connections--GRE MAKES them cry. 2) It's a newer modem that functions as a router. 3) You're using a modem and mistaking it for a router. If #1: Get yourself a better router. Now. Good option: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190&Tpk=WRT54GL If #2: Either a) Get yourself a cheap network switch and connect it to your router. If you don't care about Gigabit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124005 If you do: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124021&Tpk=EG005W So you'll do something like this: Router ---> uplink port on Switch (if it has one...if not, then pick the last port) -- two cables, one from port 1 and one from port 2 ---> Computer 1 and Computer 2 respectively. ...or B) Like #1, connect the router to your modem, use DHCP as the WAN option in the router, and either i. Change your modem to "bridge mode" to bridge everything to the separate router or ii. Give your router a static WAN IP address that's within the modem's LAN subnet and configure your router to DMZ everything to the router. If you need assistance with this, let me know. I might not be able to help you completely, but between what I know and calling your Internet provider, this can be done (i.e.: your ISP may not support the router and I have no idea what the interface of your modem is like, but put two and two together and it can work). If #3: See #1. Get yourself a router.

Answer»

Okay, I finally got that *censored* Local Area Connection thing running, and my two PCs are connected. However, I'm using a VPN connection to access the internet. So, I set that the VPN connection is shared on the network (that is, with the other computer). The one I'm connecting through connects online, internet is working fine, but the other one has no response (FTP, pinging, file accessing is all working). Help?Since no one else has responded, I'll respond as best as I can.

Why are you using a VPN to access the internet? I've set up VPNs before to access secure networks, but not just to get internet access. And the VPNs I set up were very specific, or limited to, one computer for security reasons. I would imagine that multiple computers could be set up to use a single VPN, but each would need to be authorized. What VPN software are you using?

You don't mention a router. Are you using one?Router is connected to the PC I'm using to access the internet. I'm not using a specific software for VPNs, I created the connection over Windows. It's that type of connection, that's why I'm using VPN. I connect to the VPN server with my username and password, I go through authorization and I'm online.

The thing is that it worked when I linked the PC and laptop (PC is using xp and i have win 7 on laptop). I just enabled the homegroup on laptop and EVERYTHING worked fine. This time I have two XP's, just shared the connection on the main one, but the other just can't access it...You didn't answer the question as to why you're using a VPN to access the Internet.

What you're doing is the equivalent of taking a flight from your home to a nearby grocery store: overkill.

VPNs are used for connecting to the network of a remote location like a workplace. They're not used typically for connecting to the Internet. I don't care if it worked for you in the past. Some people fly their PRIVATE jets to the grocery store and that works for them, but it's still ridiculous to the majority of middle-class society.

If you're just trying to connect multiple computers to the Internet, then don't make it harder than it needs to be. Do this:

Router --> LAN port 1 ---> Computer 1
Router --> LAN port 2 ---> Computer 2
Router --> Internet/WAN port ---> Cable/DSL modem (or whatever provides your Internet service)

Open up a web browser from Computer 1 or Computer 2 (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, whatever), and go to http://192.168.1.1 (or whatever the internal IP address is of your router). Log in with the router's user name and password. What you do from here depends on how your Internet Service Provider allows an Internet connection.

If it's PPPoE: Select that from the drop down menu and enter the PPPoE user name and password. If you don't know what this is, contact your Internet Service Provider.

If it's DHCP (a dynamic IP address), then you probably don't have to do anything, as "Automatic Configuration (DHCP)" is usually the default.

If it's a static IP (rare for consumers, common for businesses), then enter the IP address, Subnet MASK, Default Gateway, and DNS servers. If you don't know this information, contact your Internet Service Provider.

If your modem takes care of any of the above three options, then use "Automatic Configuration (DHCP)," as your modem may have an internal IP address (hopefully not the same as your router's or else you'll have routing conflicts and will have to change your router's internal IP address), and may be acting as DHCP server.The thing is that connection to the workplace (by VPN) is used to access the internet. I logon to 10.64.0.1 with my username and password (everything in the VPN connection is configured), and then I can access the internet.
The type of connection is PPTP.
I have only one LAN port on my router.Quote from: markho10 on August 11, 2010, 09:13:59 AM

The thing is that connection to the workplace (by VPN) is used to access the internet. I logon to 10.64.0.1 with my username and password (everything in the VPN connection is configured), and then I can access the internet.
The type of connection is PPTP.
I have only one LAN port on my router.

Interesting. Is this company policy for you to connect to the Internet through a VPN? If not, then removing the check box "Use default gateway on remote network" is your friend here:

1) Right-click the VPN connection, left-click Properties.
2) Go to the Networking tab.
3) Click "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and then click Properties.
4) Click the "Advanced" button.
5) Uncheck that annoying little "Use default gateway on remote network" check box.
6) Click the DNS tab. Add your company DNS server's IP address to the list of DNS servers to use.
7) (Optional, depends on whether your company uses this) Click the WINS tab. Add your company WINS server's IP address to the list of WINS servers to use.

Voila! VPN access, and you still use your own Internet connection. If you can't access network resources, then make sure you did #6 and #7 properly.

If this is company policy for you to use the Internet over the company's VPN connection (which would be silly, as it would be horribly slow over a VPN due to the upload of anything but a T1 or T3 line), then contact your IT department before doing the steps above.

As for your router having only one LAN port...I can think of three reasons for this:

1) It's an older router--has one WAN port and one LAN port. Don't use those for PPTP connections--GRE MAKES them cry.
2) It's a newer modem that functions as a router.
3) You're using a modem and mistaking it for a router.

If #1: Get yourself a better router. Now.
Good option: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190&Tpk=WRT54GL

If #2: Either
a) Get yourself a cheap network switch and connect it to your router.
If you don't care about Gigabit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124005
If you do: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124021&Tpk=EG005W

So you'll do something like this:

Router ---> uplink port on Switch (if it has one...if not, then pick the last port) -- two cables, one from port 1 and one from port 2 ---> Computer 1 and Computer 2 respectively.

...or

B) Like #1, connect the router to your modem, use DHCP as the WAN option in the router, and either
i. Change your modem to "bridge mode" to bridge everything to the separate router
or
ii. Give your router a static WAN IP address that's within the modem's LAN subnet and configure your router to DMZ everything to the router. If you need assistance with this, let me know. I might not be able to help you completely, but between what I know and calling your Internet provider, this can be done (i.e.: your ISP may not support the router and I have no idea what the interface of your modem is like, but put two and two together and it can work).

If #3: See #1. Get yourself a router.

Solve : Sharing a VPN connection?

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