VPN help / Windows XP

[Mamacat104]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum...

I am trying to load a VPN program which lets me dial into my work. It won't install... has a message that states....
Not compatible with Microsoft Internet connection sharing. Internet connection sharing must be uninstalled before VPN client can be installed.
I was told to go to Network Connections and right click on the connection and go to the Advanced tab and disable Internet Sharing. When I right click on the connection and go to the Advanced tab, there isn't a place to disable the internet sharing.
I have my computer (Running Windows XP Professional) hooked to a router along with another computer running Windows XP Home version. We can both access the internet at the same time. The VPN won't work when it is hooked to the router and we are sharing the internet.
Is there a way to disable internet sharing so that when I need to, I can dial into work and then Enable it back when I am signed out of work. Is there a way I can make the VPN think that all is okay and I'm on the internet singulary?
some easy solution if there is one, would be greatly appreciated. I don't have to dial into work very often, but I want to be able to when I need to when I get bogged down at work.

IF NOT, do you know if I can install the professional upgrade on to two computers and activate them both? Because if I can't get this computer I'm on now to work with the VPN, I will need to install the Windows XP Professional and the VPN on another computer to dial into work.
appreciate your help
have a good evening.
Barbara

[Miz]

You can put the system with VPN into the router's DMZ which essentially gives that computer a direct connection to the internet. The router will no longer interfere with traffic but at the same time will no longer act as a hardware firewall. In that case, you should have a software firewall running.

Once that's done, you won't need ICS at all since both computers can remain plugged into the router and connect to the net simultaneously.

[Mamacat104]

Okay... I'm not sure what you are talking about.. This is my first
time dealing with a router. How do I make this type of connection and
keep both computers up and running?

Thanks
Barbara

[Miz]

First, find the computer's IP (the computer with VPN). To do that, go to Start>Run, type in "cmd" (without the quotes), press the Enter key. Then type "ipconfig" (without the quotes), press the Enter key. Make a note of the IP number, you'll need it later.

Then access the router's interface. For example, if it's a Linksys router, open Internet Explorer and type 192.168.1.1 into the address field, press the Enter key. It will ask for a user name and password. You can leave the user name filed blank, the default password is "admin" (without the quotes). Read the owner's manual to see how to access the interface on your particular router. The manual should also have instructions on using the DMZ feature.

Once you're into the router, find the DMZ screen. Enter the VPN computer's IP that you got earlier and click the "Save settings" or "Apply" (or whatever terminology your router uses) button, probably at the bottom of the page.

Now the VPN computer has what is essentially a direct connection to the outside world. Don't forget you'll need to run a software firewall since that computer will no longer have the firewall protection of the router.

The other computer is just connected to the router as usual.

[z1p]

Hi mamacat,

I hope I don't confuse things for everyone, but I have a question (somewhat just out of curiousity). You say you just started using the router. Before you were using the router, were you sharing the internet connection and if so how?

[Rainbow32]

I just answered another poster's question about the XP firewall and throught about this thread when I read at the MS site that if your trying to connect to a VPN you should turn off XP's firewall.

[Mamacat104]

The Windows XP firewall is shutoff.
When I try to install the VPN, it comes back and says that it is not compatible with Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing and that I will have
to uninstall the internet connection sharing and then reboot the computer before installing the VPN.
Someone told me to go to the Network Connection and right click on the connection and go to properties and then go to the Advanced tab and uncheck the "Allow others to connect through this computer" (something like this). Well, when I go to the Advanced tab, there is nothing to uncheck that says anything about allowing others to connect through this computer. I checked the other computer that is also hooked to the router and there isnt a place under the Advanced tab on that computer either about allowing someone to connect to the internet through that computer. So I'm confused. I can find no reference to the Internet Connection Sharing that it is refering to.
My router is Linksys and they are telling me that I don't have ICS installed on the computer, which would explain why there isn't the "Allow others to connect to the internet through this computer" button under the Advanced tab. But if that is the case, why would the VPN program think that the ICS is installed?
thanks
Barbara

[z1p]

Hi mama :)

Try following the instruction on THIS (http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/471/vpnclient_ics.html) page. If you need help with it post page and I'll try to help out.

-z1p

[Mamacat104]

Thanks for the info... It looks like I'm going to have to disable it through the registry. There is no reference at all to ICS under Services.
If I disable the ICS in the registry, will I have problems getting on the internet through the router?
thanks for your help,
Barbara

[bAdWaYz]

You shouldn't have issues but as with anything dealing in registry editing back it up before you make changes. Also just because I wonder what vpn software is it that you are trying to use?

[Mamacat104]

It is the Cisco Client VPN that my company uses. But since I'm using
it on my own computer and not a company issued one, they aren't a
lot of help when I have issues. So have been trying to figure out the
problem on my own.
If I remove it from the registry, how hard is it to load the ICS back
into the registry? (This is Windows XP Professional that I'm using). I
try to be very cautious with the Registry and try not to mess with it
without very good instructions on what to do with it. I know if I mess
it up, could cause my computer not to run anymore.. That's one area
I'm not to familiar with.
thanks for you help with this. I do appreciate it. I thought it probably
didn't like the fact that I was hooked to the internet through a router
and that was why it wouldn't install.
have a good day
barbara

[bAdWaYz]

Shouldn't matter about the router as long as you have the correct ports forwarded and if the router has the option for vpn passthrough you need to enable it. Based on what the vpn connection is you will want IPSec Passthrough, PPTP Passthrough, or L2TP Passthrough.

[z1p]

babara, I am running through the same config that you are trying to setup (CISCO VPN, through a router and running XP Pro). I have no problem at all with the router. I had to manually open a couple of ports to get it to work, because my router is a bit old and doesn't have the VPN passthru options. Check your router and if it doesn't have any VPN passthru options let us know and we can help you out opening up the ports needed.

-z1p