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sturner · 02-16-2006, 03:59 PM

Here is my problem, my wife has a home office and telecomutes into her company. The company (a telcom) provides a VPN connection, software and laptop (a Dell). We share an HP 7130 all-in-one printer, and I have installed a Keyspan USB print server.

When I tested the installation, all worked nicely, My Mac connected and printed, her laptop connected and printed. Slick as a whistle. I love it when technology works.

The fly in the ointment is that as soon as she connects through VPN, all of the local network disappears, my Mac, the printer, and I can't see her laptop.

It is my opinion that the VPN software or the network policies implenented on her laptop are removing her from the local network. Am I correct? Is this conceivably something that can be corrected if I wheedle the IT people nicely, and they actually help?

She is running Windows XP Pro, I have a PowerMac G5 with 10.4.5.

BoA · 02-16-2006, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sturner@Feb 16 2006, 12:59 PM
Here is my problem, my wife has a home office and telecomutes into her company. The company (a telcom) provides a VPN connection, software and laptop (a Dell). We share an HP 7130 all-in-one printer, and I have installed a Keyspan USB print server.

When I tested the installation, all worked nicely, My Mac connected and printed, her laptop connected and printed. Slick as a whistle. I love it when technology works.

The fly in the ointment is that as soon as she connects through VPN, all of the local network disappears, my Mac, the printer, and I can't see her laptop.

It is my opinion that the VPN software or the network policies implenented on her laptop are removing her from the local network. Am I correct? Is this conceivably something that can be corrected if I wheedle the IT people nicely, and they actually help?

She is running Windows XP Pro, I have a PowerMac G5 with 10.4.5.

Quoted post

Asuming that when you say it disapears... its on her Dell that it does.

If so... then you're dead on with the issue.

Most of the VPN packages for Windows assume that the "switch" is binary (All or nothing). So, when you activate the VPN it inserts inself in the network layer and processes all of the calls.

There are ways around this but they all require that she has Local Admin of the Laptop.

One way is to establish a second interface on her lap top that is never is used by the VPN. (I did this by using a WiFi card for my local network and used the Ethernet interface for the VPN)

However, this can be tricky much depends on whose VPN software and if you have the appropriate access on the laptop.

sturner · 02-17-2006, 05:38 PM

*&#^&!^%%!!!!

And other words to that affect. I was afraid of that. Now I will have to face the daunting prospect of finding a sympathetic IT guy at her company. This company encourages people to home office, and then they engineering it so it is impossible to do so and maintain more than one computer at home.

<Sigh>

Well back to the skunk works.

Thanks for the confirmation.

Yocona · 02-17-2006, 06:12 PM

Like BoA mentioned, does the printer have to be on the VPN? Seens like there should be several ways to skin that cat.

sturner · 02-21-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yocona@Feb 17 2006, 5:12 PM
Like BoA mentioned, does the printer have to be on the VPN?* Seens like there should be several ways to skin that cat.

Quoted post

The printer isn't on VPN. The Dell laptop is. Once the laptop starts VPN, all other network connections disappear. We were even having problems early this week and up to Monday where the laptop couldn't connect through VPN.

The problem was that one of the settings in VPN was mysteriously set wrong. Every time this happens, it's the same setting. I belive that the IT department screws around with settings when it sends out updates or tweaks their servers.

Anyway, the bottom line is that I can't find a way to get the laptop to connect on the cable through VPN, and see the other, local network, or get the wireless connection to ignore VPN and see the local network.

When I turn off VPN, not only can the laptop see the local network, the USB server is accessible, and I can share drives, both ways.

Yocona · 02-21-2006, 04:46 PM

So hooking her laptop up to the printer directly via a USB cable is not an option? If possible, it is obviously an inconvenience compared to using a wireless network, but maybe not compared to dealing with the IT dept.

sturner · 02-22-2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yocona@Feb 21 2006, 3:46 PM
So hooking her laptop up to the printer directly via a USB cable is not an option?* If possible, it is obviously an inconvenience compared to using a wireless network, but maybe not compared to dealing with the IT dept.

Quoted post

Not only is it an option, it is the only way she has printer capability, and I have to do the same to print. This will eventually wear out the connector before the life of the printer is over. Additionally, with the length of the cable runs, it is more efficient for us to have a networked connection, I'm looking at a USB runs of over 10 feet to reach a switcher. And my experience with USB switches has been problematic. With the addition, in the near future of a third computer, one for my son, the network solution is really the only viable one. He will connect by wireless. I'm still looking at USB switches, but I've got little hope of a satisfactory solution.

Currently, I tried using a Keyspan USB print server. It saves me from having a 10 foot plus USB cable run from my Mac to the printer.

02-16-2006, 03:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
sturner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 207 Credits: 33	Here is my problem, my wife has a home office and telecomutes into her company. The company (a telcom) provides a VPN connection, software and laptop (a Dell). We share an HP 7130 all-in-one printer, and I have installed a Keyspan USB print server. When I tested the installation, all worked nicely, My Mac connected and printed, her laptop connected and printed. Slick as a whistle. I love it when technology works. The fly in the ointment is that as soon as she connects through VPN, all of the local network disappears, my Mac, the printer, and I can't see her laptop. It is my opinion that the VPN software or the network policies implenented on her laptop are removing her from the local network. Am I correct? Is this conceivably something that can be corrected if I wheedle the IT people nicely, and they actually help? She is running Windows XP Pro, I have a PowerMac G5 with 10.4.5. __________________ It's all 1's and 0's, unless you work for a start-up, and then you might have to use i's and o's.

02-16-2006, 06:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 1,621 Credits: 482	Quote: Originally posted by sturner@Feb 16 2006, 12:59 PM Here is my problem, my wife has a home office and telecomutes into her company. The company (a telcom) provides a VPN connection, software and laptop (a Dell). We share an HP 7130 all-in-one printer, and I have installed a Keyspan USB print server. When I tested the installation, all worked nicely, My Mac connected and printed, her laptop connected and printed. Slick as a whistle. I love it when technology works. The fly in the ointment is that as soon as she connects through VPN, all of the local network disappears, my Mac, the printer, and I can't see her laptop. It is my opinion that the VPN software or the network policies implenented on her laptop are removing her from the local network. Am I correct? Is this conceivably something that can be corrected if I wheedle the IT people nicely, and they actually help? She is running Windows XP Pro, I have a PowerMac G5 with 10.4.5. Quoted post Asuming that when you say it disapears... its on her Dell that it does. If so... then you're dead on with the issue. Most of the VPN packages for Windows assume that the "switch" is binary (All or nothing). So, when you activate the VPN it inserts inself in the network layer and processes all of the calls. There are ways around this but they all require that she has Local Admin of the Laptop. One way is to establish a second interface on her lap top that is never is used by the VPN. (I did this by using a WiFi card for my local network and used the Ethernet interface for the VPN) However, this can be tricky much depends on whose VPN software and if you have the appropriate access on the laptop. __________________ Bo... <span style=\'color:navy\'><span style=\'font-family:courier\'>SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0;</span> <span style=\'color:green\'>0 Rows Returned.</span></span>

02-17-2006, 05:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
sturner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 207 Credits: 33	*&#^&!^%%!!!! And other words to that affect. I was afraid of that. Now I will have to face the daunting prospect of finding a sympathetic IT guy at her company. This company encourages people to home office, and then they engineering it so it is impossible to do so and maintain more than one computer at home. <Sigh> Well back to the skunk works. Thanks for the confirmation. __________________ It's all 1's and 0's, unless you work for a start-up, and then you might have to use i's and o's.

02-17-2006, 06:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Yocona Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,819 Credits: 940	Like BoA mentioned, does the printer have to be on the VPN? Seens like there should be several ways to skin that cat. __________________ It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius, 551-479 BC

02-21-2006, 12:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
sturner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 207 Credits: 33	Quote: Originally posted by Yocona@Feb 17 2006, 5:12 PM Like BoA mentioned, does the printer have to be on the VPN?* Seens like there should be several ways to skin that cat. Quoted post The printer isn't on VPN. The Dell laptop is. Once the laptop starts VPN, all other network connections disappear. We were even having problems early this week and up to Monday where the laptop couldn't connect through VPN. The problem was that one of the settings in VPN was mysteriously set wrong. Every time this happens, it's the same setting. I belive that the IT department screws around with settings when it sends out updates or tweaks their servers. Anyway, the bottom line is that I can't find a way to get the laptop to connect on the cable through VPN, and see the other, local network, or get the wireless connection to ignore VPN and see the local network. When I turn off VPN, not only can the laptop see the local network, the USB server is accessible, and I can share drives, both ways. __________________ It's all 1's and 0's, unless you work for a start-up, and then you might have to use i's and o's.

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02-21-2006, 04:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yocona Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,819 Credits: 940	So hooking her laptop up to the printer directly via a USB cable is not an option? If possible, it is obviously an inconvenience compared to using a wireless network, but maybe not compared to dealing with the IT dept. __________________ It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius, 551-479 BC

02-22-2006, 04:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
sturner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 207 Credits: 33	Quote: Originally posted by Yocona@Feb 21 2006, 3:46 PM So hooking her laptop up to the printer directly via a USB cable is not an option?* If possible, it is obviously an inconvenience compared to using a wireless network, but maybe not compared to dealing with the IT dept. Quoted post Not only is it an option, it is the only way she has printer capability, and I have to do the same to print. This will eventually wear out the connector before the life of the printer is over. Additionally, with the length of the cable runs, it is more efficient for us to have a networked connection, I'm looking at a USB runs of over 10 feet to reach a switcher. And my experience with USB switches has been problematic. With the addition, in the near future of a third computer, one for my son, the network solution is really the only viable one. He will connect by wireless. I'm still looking at USB switches, but I've got little hope of a satisfactory solution. Currently, I tried using a Keyspan USB print server. It saves me from having a 10 foot plus USB cable run from my Mac to the printer. __________________ It's all 1's and 0's, unless you work for a start-up, and then you might have to use i's and o's.

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