Re: VPN access to network file shares

JPL wrote:
Hi,

I provide IT support to a locally based charity, and would like help to get one of their users connected to their file shares over a VPN connection.

The file shares are on a server running Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. The VPN connection is directly to the server using Microsoft PPTP.

The user can connect to the server via VPN and can use Outlook Web Access without problems.

The network file shares appear to be setup correctly. This is done via a VBS script, which reports via WScript.Network.EnumNetworkDrives.Item(i) that the mappings have been successful.

However, the newly mapped drives (P:, Q:, etc.) are not shown in the Windows Explorer Folders pane, and the user is unable to find them, much less access them.

I suspect the problem relates to the PC OS, as the PC runs Windows XP Home Edition. (Everything works without any problem when connecting from a PC running XP Pro.)

I have no access to an XP Home PC myself, although I understand that XP Home cannot join a domain and is restricted to Simple File Sharing. I have not used Simple File Sharing and do not understand the details of its operation or limitations.

Is it possible to connect to the network shares from XP Home? If so, how may this be configured?

JPL


The network shares are at the remote site with the SBS server, correct? I just want to make absolutely sure before I ramble. If they are on the users home network, then that network will be lost when the VPN is established as Cris was suggesting - the XP Home PC will be assigned an IP in accordance with the remote network, and all IPs will be for the remote network not his home network.

That said, yes, it is possible to connect to remote shares using XP home. This is how I set up users to do it on the last network I maintained:

- User initiates a PPTP VPN to remote workplace.
- Router forwards PPTP VPN to SBS 2003 R2 for authentication.
- User initiates Remote Desktop Connection to either a PC at the remote workplace with login enabled or to a TS server.
- Shares are available in windows explorer in the RDC as if the user was there at the remote site.
- Some shares are mapped using the SBS login batch file.
- These shares are ONLY visible in a Windows Explorer window opened within the remote desktop. They are NOT visible on the users local PC's windows explorer.

* the user can have access to their local C: drive within the remote desktop windows explorer window if this is enabled in the RDC settings.

Other than the VBS mapping, how does your setup differ?

Regards,

Ari
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