VPN question...

Archived from groups: comp.dcom.vpn (More info?)

jaedend@charter.net (Jed Savage) writes:

> I'm new to VPN to please forgive me in advance. I'm expanding an
> office to a new building and I'd like to run a VPN connection between
> them. I have a few questions on how this will work.
>
> I'm planning on getting 2 LinkSys BEFSX41 routers. One for each
> network.
>
> My first question. Once configured properly how will the remote
> network show up on the local network. I'm assuming that the computers
> on the new network will show up on the old network as if they were
> connected locally - and vise vera that the old networks computers will
> show up locally on the new network. Correct?

That's right. But if you are running windows on both ends and want to
see the remote computers in "Network Neighborhood", you have to allow
NetBIOS traffic through the VPN tunnel. Exactly how that's done
depends on the router config.

> Next... what about IP addresses? The old network uses IPs
> 192.168.1.1 thru 192.168.1.12. The new network will use 10.0.0.1
> through 10.0.0.24. On the old network, will the new network's
> computers have 192.168.1.x addresses? And vise vera?

No, the IP addresses will stay the way the are.

> Next... The model of routers that I'm planning on say they allow up to
> 2 IPSec VPN tunnels ea. Since both ends will have these routers will
> that consume both tunnels? Or will I still have one open tunnel on
> each to connect from home with?

Joining the two networks should consume just one tunnel.

> Finally... When I do connect from home, will I see both networks
> regardless of the router I connect to? Or will I only see that
> router's local network?

When you establish a VPN connection to the 192.168.0.0/24 network, you
will not be able to ping a host in the 10.0.0.0/24 network and vice
versa. But there is nothing that stops you from establishing two
simultaneous VPN connections from home, one for each network. Of
course, the VPN client or the gateway that you are using at home must
allow multiple concurrent VPN tunnels.

> Again... this is the first time I've worked with VPN. I'd appreciate
> any insight anyone can give me on this. Thank you!

--
Timur Aydin