Activating VPN prohibits File and printer sharing

Papagator · 08-14-2006, 07:54 AM

I have a Netgear wireless network We have 1 desktop with ethernet connection to the wireless router, and 2 laptops, connected wirelessly.
When the VPN is off, everything works OK...however, when we turn the VPN "ON", and I try to print, I get the following message..." _____is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The network path was not found."
If I turn the VPN off, everything goes back to working.
Can you help me?
Thanks
Papagator

**johnwill** · 08-14-2006, 08:10 AM

Yep, welcome to the standard operation of a VPN.

For security reasons, when you connect to a VPN tunnel, other networking is disabled. Think about the reasons for using a VPN. If other connections were left intact, the tunnel to the remote system is wide open to other stations, and even the Internet. Clearly, this is not a desirable situation.

Papagator · 08-14-2006, 09:44 AM

At one time, we had it working. One person suggested adding another networking card and use the Vpn on one and printer sharing on the other, however, I've had several people to say that could mess everything up. Got any suggestions?
Do you think the administrator of the VPN could allow my computer to access the printer?
Jim

**johnwill** · 08-14-2006, 06:16 PM

It's possible to configure many VPN clients to allow networking, but anyone that does that is punching a big hole in their network security. The whole point of the VPN is a secure connection, leaving the back door unlocked doesn't make much sense.

**Bill_Castner** · 08-20-2006, 12:13 PM

You can make lmhosts or WINS entries to resolve this issue; or change where the default gateway is located -- whether locally or remotely. This should be a setting in your VPN software.

08-14-2006, 07:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
Papagator Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Activating VPN prohibits File and printer sharing I have a Netgear wireless network We have 1 desktop with ethernet connection to the wireless router, and 2 laptops, connected wirelessly. When the VPN is off, everything works OK...however, when we turn the VPN "ON", and I try to print, I get the following message..." _____is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The network path was not found." If I turn the VPN off, everything goes back to working. Can you help me? Thanks Papagator

08-14-2006, 08:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Yep, welcome to the standard operation of a VPN. For security reasons, when you connect to a VPN tunnel, other networking is disabled. Think about the reasons for using a VPN. If other connections were left intact, the tunnel to the remote system is wide open to other stations, and even the Internet. Clearly, this is not a desirable situation. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-14-2006, 09:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Papagator Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP	VPN Networking problem At one time, we had it working. One person suggested adding another networking card and use the Vpn on one and printer sharing on the other, however, I've had several people to say that could mess everything up. Got any suggestions? Do you think the administrator of the VPN could allow my computer to access the printer? Jim

08-14-2006, 06:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,720 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	It's possible to configure many VPN clients to allow networking, but anyone that does that is punching a big hole in their network security. The whole point of the VPN is a secure connection, leaving the back door unlocked doesn't make much sense. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-20-2006, 12:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bill_Castner Users Helping Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,029 OS: XP SP2 Vista Win2k	You can make lmhosts or WINS entries to resolve this issue; or change where the default gateway is located -- whether locally or remotely. This should be a setting in your VPN software. __________________ MS-MVP Windows Networking VSOP AUMHA Forums MVM BroadbandReports / DSLR MVP Tek-Tips