VPN connects but can't map network drive / view files

[anlaoch]

Hi.

I'm new to vpn's and need some help getting mine to work. I'll try to set out the relevant information as best I can, but will add to as requested.

Server: XP Pro behind Creative Netblaster router.
Client: Vista Business connected via hotspots.
Server IP Address fixed and forwarded from router.
Port 1723 opened in xp firewall.

Incoming connections: Networking tab - all four boxes ticked.
Incoming TCP/IP connections: Network access ticked, TCP/IP automatically assigned, Allow calling computer to specify its own IP address ticked.

Client: IPv4 & IPv6 - all settings set to defaults.

Problem: VPN connects but I can't see the server when trying to map a network drive. I have 1 folder which is sync'd and this syncs automatically, but I can't add any further folders / drives.

Is this problem client or server side? Any suggestions what I should check?

Thanks in advance.

[thiggins]

You may need to connect to your server by using its IP address. Sometimes VPN's block NetBIOS traffic because it tends to be a "chatty" protocol.

[anlaoch]

Thanks. I'm a bit lost. At the moment, I'm using dyndns updater to keep the ip address up to date. However, I've tried testing the connection using the ip address provided at a given time by whatismyip.com and again although I can make the connection, I can't see the computer or folders when attempting to map a network drive.

Thanks.

[YeOldeStonecat]

When mapping by IP address, that means the "internal" IP address...the IP of your VPN host. Example...192.168.1.100.

Sometimes the old poor mans WINS trick of adding to the lmhost file can be another method.

[anlaoch]

Thanks for the pointers, but I'm lost now. Any suggestions on how to resolve this? I'm not getting anywhere no matter what I change. Where would you start if you were able to connect, but couldn't view computers / files over the vpn.

Thanks.

[thiggins]

1) Get the IP address of the computer on the Remote end of the VPN tunnel that you want to connect to by going to its Local Area Connection Status and viewing the Support tab.

2) On one of the computers on the Local end of the VPN connection, click the Start button, select Run and enter \\ipaddressofremotecomputer, example \\192.168.0.22.

3) You should then get a window with the server's shares. You can then right click and Map any share to a drive.

[anlaoch]

Thanks a million. That worked a treat. :)

Why MS can't make this advice more readily available is beyond me.

Thanks again!

[Macey]

Hi Tim

Does this method work if you are using Hamachi? I have a NAS that I want to connect to through Hamachi - like 'anlaoch' I can connect to the client computer but I can't connect to the NAS??

Many thanks
Iain

[jdabbs]

I use Hamachi so I can answer this one. Since Hamachi connects peers and not networks, the NAS needs to be running Hamachi, or have a client on the NAS's network set up Hamachi as a bridge (http://logmeinwiki.com/wiki/Hamachi:Routed_Tunneling_/_Bridging_Networks_Together).