VPN question once its running

[Pemolis]

I had no idea how exactly to google this, So I am asking here.

Once a person has setup a VPN (home user using winxp pro).. how does that person actually get INTO the computer. A drive does not show up in My Computer.. You can't \\computername cause it asks for different authentification. Same thing happens when you use that computer's natted ip-address.

Considering that I am an admin at the connecting computer, an admin at the computer I'm connecting too.. and the account is also an administrator account.. how do I actually DO something on the computer I just VPN'd into. I'd just really really like a way to bring up the C drive, the F drive.. or some drive on that computer. Just about ever VPN tutorial I have read only talks about connecting. I've done that.. now how the heck do I do something with it?

[hapoo]

well name resolution doesn't go through vpn for some reason (at least on my setup) so you can't go \\computername but you can say \\computerip.

[gwilks98]

I love networking questions...but I don't have enough to give you an answer.

Can you provide a little more detail about your setup? Keep in mind that posting it here will pose a risk to your network security, as you may give blackhats something to attack.

I do know this about your authentication question: when trying to get to that machines drive, once your computer is logically on the same network (through VPN, for example), all you should need to do is
1. type the address you want in explorer. (you'll need to use the sharename, like \\computer_name<or IP address>\drive\folder
2. When prompted for authentication, use computer_name\<administrator account>, and your password. Use the target machine's adminsitrator username and password.

Provided the machine is running the proper services, you should be able to get in. Don't forget to turn off simple file sharing. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304040/)

[Jeffbx]

Heh - setting up VPN on a NATted IP address is not for the weak. Good job.

But what is your end goal? Just accessing the files on the machine? You can use something much simpler than that, like WinVNC or FTP.

[Pemolis]

The reason I didn't want VNC or FTP is because there less secure in sending info/password, etc etc.

This is actually a very simple question that is just confusing to ask.

Lets say we used this tutorial http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Configure-VPN-Connection-Windows-XP.html. Theres no need to read it all. But if you like to.. scroll All the way to the bottom. Heres a summary


One you are in the Network Connection dialog box, double-click, or right click and select ‘Connect’ from the menu – this will initiate the connection to the corporate office.

Type your user name and password, and then click Connect. Properties bring you back to what we just discussed in this article, all the global settings for the VPN client you are using.

To disconnect from a VPN connection, right-click the icon for the connection, and then click “Disconnect”
Summary

What every single tutorial lacks to say is how you actually connect to the computer's drive. Assuming this works completely and a VPN is created.. how to you actually Explore the Drive your connected to? Were you suppose to make shares first, or do something else?

I'll make a really basic example.

You have two Computers. VPN-Server and VPN-Client

VPN-Server has natted IP 192.168.1.10, behind an IP address which has a Domain Name pemolis.home.net (this is fake). The router is forwarding ports 500, 50-51 and 1723 to ip address 192.168.1.10 (computer VNC-Server). The Firewall's been setup also.

VPN-Client is across the block on another natted network, on a completely different IP address. In this case, it doesn't matter.

VPN-Client makes a successful connection to VPN-Server using Winxp VPN server connection method. How do I access the C drive or R Drive (these are two physical hard drives, partitioned) on the Computer VPN-Server (this is the computer's name).

Am I suppose to go to Star/Run/ and type \\VPN-Server. Or type \\192.168.1.10

Consider that there is no sharing modifications that have been made from the base install (this is a computer that has been setup and patched, no drive shares, H drives etc have been created.

These are all winxp computers.

[mcs328]

I'm no expert but when I VPN into my computer at work, I use the standard VPN connection that comes with XP. Then I use the Remote Desktop Connection feature in XP to connect to the computer name at work or the IP address that's assigned to my computer at work which connects to all the network drives. This however probably isn't what you're asking for.

Oh and I thought you can only remotely connect to a computer that runs Window XP Professional which I assume is installed on the computer you want to connect to.

[Jeffbx]

Once you're connected, you can do as MCS does, and fire up remote desktop. It'll be slow, but it will work.

If you just want to map a drive, then it's just like you're on the LAN at home. Tools.. map network drive in explorer. You'll have to set up a share 1st, and like gwilks mentions, you'll probably have to map it via the IP rather than the name - \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\share

Easiest thing to do now (if you don't want to set up shares) - when you go to map the drive, click the link that says 'connect using a different user name. For user name, put in xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\administrator and then your administrator password. The password cannot be blank or this will not work! You can use this to connect to whatever drives you want - all HDs on a machine automatically have a hidden administrative share that the local admins have access to - you just use the format driveletter$

So to map to your C:\ drive, you go to Map Network Drive, put in the address \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\c$, click on Connect using different name, and follow the steps above.

[Pemolis]

That was possibly the best answer anybody could have given me.

I'll give it a try tonight and let ya know.