1 comp..2 net's

[magnethead]

My dad has a laptop for his job, and it has the VPN to his work server in SC pre-loaded as a local network. Is there a way i can set it up to also use our home network so he can print the files off the laptop without using up a bunch of discs? It recognizes the wireless network and he's able to get on the internet, but not much else.

[z1p]

That sounds like it might just be a workgroup/sharing issue. I'm betting that his work uses a domain or at the very least the workgroup at home is different from work. Do you have other machines that share the printer already?

Does he want to print at home while connected to the work? Can he ping the other PC from his laptop?

Sorry for all the questions, but in this type of config there could be many things causing the problem.

[magnethead]

yea, the network setup wizard says it can't run because the network "BCUSA" is a domain. (or something like that).

and yes, my computer uses the printer via network

[z1p]

Does he want to print at home while connected to the work? Can he ping the other PC from his laptop?


The answer to these are important as they will help me advise the best solution.
-z1p

[magnethead]

no, he just needs to print excel docs off the laptop...

i'm able to edit options in the linksys router via the IP addy, but haven't tried any pings. what would I ping, the computer name? I can't get quick esults, my dad is in OKC and wont be home till late late.

[z1p]

Try the computer name and if that doesn't work try the ip ddress.

Ok. So he doesn't want to be able to access the home PCs while logged into work, yes? That is good as it is simpler.

[magnethead]

what would the IP address be? i forget how to check local and network IP's in cmd.

edit- nevermind, just remembered ipconfig

[magnethead]

ok, i checked it just now. I pinged the IP of my computer and the computer upstairs, it found both of them in the ping command. What now?

[magnethead]

this might be of help, ran from my computer:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Steve *********>net view
Server Name Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\\MOMDAD upstairs
\\STEVEJR downstairs
The command completed successfully.


C:\Documents and Settings\Steve ******>net share

Share name Resource Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPC$ Remote IPC
A A:\
Documents C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents

Macromedia C:\Program Files\Macromedia
MAVICA C:\SONY MAVICA
NASCAR C:\NASCAR
OCF C:\MY OLD COMPUTER FILES
Shared Music C:\Documents and Settings\Steve *******\Shared

The command completed successfully.


C:\Documents and Settings\Steve McDermott>

[magnethead]

checked his laptop with ipconfig, it says 192.168.1.102 is his IP address, so i went on both of the wired network computers and checked, pingning that address didn't work on either one, but if i ping mine (192.168.1.101) or the upstairs computer (192.168.1.100) from his laptop, it finds them.

I also ran net view and net share, both came up empty.

[z1p]

OK. It sounds like his PC gets a valid IP, but it is in a domain instead of the workgroup used by the rest of the PCs.

Check out netsetman (http://www.cybertechhelp.com/download/file/netsetman) it lets you set you multiple networking profiles. You want to set up one for his work and one for home which uses the same workgroup name as the other PCs at home.

[magnethead]

Does it require a password or anything for the VPN? Because the company doesn't release that info to anyone but the tech guys..and they arent allowed to give it to any employees.

[z1p]

I'm not sure what you mean...

[magnethead]

Do i have to configure it to the VPN, like using the username and password (it's a secure VPN). If it does, it wont work, because his VPN requires a password to log on, and it's pre-configured by the tech dept. at my dad's work in SC so nobody knows the password.