VPN connection

Hi friends

This is regarding setting up a VPN connection. I did read the article posted by 'GreatOne52782' and the reply from 'havohej' but I am not sure whether the VPN I am trying to establish is a site-to-site VPN. I guess I need some help with the basics.
My setup is as follows:
I am using a dsl connection at both the Server and Client ends and I have a dynamic IP package.(Since I need to connect thru VPN just for a short period, I guess dynamic IP is okay for me for the time being). I am using a D-link 502T ADSL router at both ends. At the VPN server end there are 2 Win XP Pro computers connected in LAN and the VPN server is using an IP address of 192.168.1.2 while the other machine has an IP of 192.168.1.3 and subnet of 255.255.255.0 . The IP addresses have been forced on both the machines' TCP/IP settings.
At the Client end also I have a similar setup with 2 Win XP Pro machines with IPs of 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.3 and subnet of 255.255.255.0 (IPs forced). The computer that I am using as client is 192.168.1.3 .
The problem is that I am able to establish a VPN connection but am not able to view or access the shared folders on the server. In other words I am not able to see the VPN server in the "My Network Places" window. I am getting a virtual IP of 192.168.1.5 on both the client as well as the server. Even if I type \\192.168.1.5 in Start->Run i do not get any results. I was informed that one reason why I am not able to see the shared folders is because both the LANs are on the same subnet (an IP of 192.168.1.x). I was adviced to change the LAN IP for the client side to 192.168.0.x series. If so please inform me about the IP addressess and the subnet masks I can use to get my connection going.

Thanx

Nitin

What are you using for a VPN server?

Hi,
I'm not sure if I got your question correctly GreatOne52782 but the machine I have set up to be the VPN server is using Win XP pro 2002 SP2. I hope thats what u r looking for?!?
One other thing I forgot to mention is that there is a setting for Virtual Server in the D-link router and I have selected PPTP for VPN. Do I need to select PPTP at both the server and the client ends? Another thing I am puzzled about is if the VPN can work only on different subnets how am I able to establish a connection in the first place. I am completely new to this and really need some tips on this.

Thanx

Ok.

I know this sounds redundant, but I am going to ask just for clarification:

This is your setup:

LAN A:
192.168.1.2 - Windows XP as VPN server
255.255.255.0

192.168.1.3 - Windows XP
255.255.255.0

LAN B:
192.168.1.2 - Windows XP
255.255.255.0

192.168.1.3 - Windows XP as VPN client
255.255.255.0

As someone else already suggested to you, it would be easier if you changed the IP scheme at the LAN B side to 192.168.0.x.

Your LAN B would then look like this:

LAN B:
192.168.0.2 - Windows XP
255.255.255.0

192.168.0.3 - Windows XP as VPN client
255.255.255.0

If you were to do that, the Windows XP VPN server that you have setup would then issue an IP address on the 192.168.1.x network and your IPs would not be conflicting anymore.

Lastly, when you setup the VPN server on Windows XP, did you assign a static range of IPs to use?

In response to your question regarding how you are able to establish the connection in the first place, (anyone can correct me if I am wrong) the VPN is acting how it should, the problem is if you get an IP that exists on both networks (192.168.1.x) both locations will consider it local and will not know how to properly route it.

Completely agree with greatone!
as he mentioned instead of subnetting the single class c network you can use another class c network.

another idea I think is to use nat for the overlapping networks, you can use nat as when two companys merge with exactly the same addressing scheme, but it is a more long path, and I dont recommend you if you are a newby.

try the greatone suggestion It must work.

Hi friends,
Thank you for the information you all have shared with me, especially GreatOne52782 for the detailed description.
To answer the question (did you assign a static range of IPs to use?) I did not assign static IPs and allowed the server to give its own IPs automatically.
Unfortunately even after setting up my networks on two different subnets I am not able to get to the files on the server. As usual I am able to connect thru VPN and this time I was assigned a virtual IP of 192.168.1.4 though the LAN (at the client end) is on 192.168.0.x series. That was a success.However when I type in this IP address (i.e. 192.168.1.4) I am getting to the drives of the client computer and not the host. Right now I suddenly realized that I did not try to open 192.168.1.2 (the server IP address). I guess that is a pretty dumb mistake as the IP 192.168.1.4 is obviously pointing to the client computer and not to the server. I guess if i try to open 192.168.1.2 i should be able to get access to the server.
Will try this step as soon as I get access to my test lab once again.

Thanx one again to all

Regards
Nitin