Hello all,
I am trying to find help on the steps I need to follow to connect 2 computers from home to the network at the office.
Office computers have XP-Pro
Home computer 1 XP- home
Home computer 2 (different home from 1) W2K-Pro
I got the network in the office working just fine, but I can't seem to get the two computers outside of the office to be allowed in.

The firewalls all have the IP addresses in the trusted zone. Windows firewall is off and Norton firewall is on the network
Zone Alarm is on one of the home computers and configured to allow for the IP addresses of the other computers.

Yet, in the office the one computer can't ping itself but it can ping another computer, but not outside of the office. No other computer can ping any other computer.
We are using a Linksys Router with no other problems noted.
I tried to find a tutorial for this problem but there were none listed. Can anyone out there help me solve this problem? I have been trying to find a solution since September.

The computers in the office probably have a internal IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.#). Is that correct? You won't be able to connect to them remotely using their internal IP addresses. One option is to find the IP address assigned to your office by the Internet Service Provider. You can then create a VPN or connect via software made for that purpose. (Don't ask me the specifics on setting up a VPN since such troubles are what has me visiting here today.)

are u trying to get to a specific pc in the office if so u have to get access throught the servers and u would need the static ip for the server that the pc is connected to. remember there are firewall on the server so those will deny access to the desktops pc's

Thanks for the responses. I have contacted Linksys and they were able to help me configure the router to allow me to use GoToMyPC program again. However, that ties up the office computer, which is not what I wanted to do. I really need to access the office database without tying up a computer that someone there can be using.

so u need access to the server where the data base is stored

yes that is correct, bobbyraw

VPN is the way to go. You may be able to configure this on your router if it's capable. The router can authenticate or you can use a RADIUS server to authenticate.

Hi Darla,

I agree with Inky - a VPN is probably the way to go.

Have a look at this tut: http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networ...vpn_server.htm

It has instructions for creating a VPN server with XP. You'll need a static IP address (which I assume you have if you already had one type of remote access going). You'll probably want to leave your nominated XP, VPN Server on, though it should be available for use by others when you 're connected.

As the tut mentions at the end, you'll also need to forward incoming traffic on port 1723 to your nominated VPN Server in your router at the office.

You'll then connect to your work's external IP address from home using a username/password on the VPN server.

Once it's set up, you should be able to access your database over the network as if you were at work.

Chris Fry
Canberra, Australia

that's all advanced. If you just want to remote into your office computer, I recommend www.logmein.com
Gives you free access to your computers.

I did try to establish a VPN only to find out that our router does not support it. Is there any other ways? It is too late to return the router, so I guess I am stuck with this setup.