connecting two LANs together...

[Vergil]

Please,
Does anyone has an idea of how to connect two LANs together , the two LANs will be able to connect to the internet.
Thanks.

[YeOldeStonecat]

A bit more detail please...

Are these separate networks...separate locations, like two different offices across town or across the state or across country?

Does each network already have an existing connection to the internet?

Purpose of connecting the two networks?

[Vergil]

Yes,
They are separate networks, in different locations (across the state)
None of the network has an existing connection to the internet.
Basically, the reason is two share files, etc and to enable the two LANs to communicate with each other.

I plan on connecting the two LANs over a shared resource, like the internet.

I hope these details clarify things a bit.

[YeOldeStonecat]

A common method these days, is to get business grade broadband with static IP addresses at each location, and utilize business grade routers that support "router to router VPN connections".

Such as Linksys RV0 series, Cisco PIX, Sonicewall, Watchguard, etc.

But there's quite a bit of homework to do....and realizing the limitations and what not.

Number of users at each location that will use the tunnel...there's only so much bandwidth...you need to plan it based on what you're using the tunnel for, and how many users will be using it.

"reason...to share files"...that doesn't really say much. Share how? What program(s)? How many users? Basic file sharing such as \\servername\sharename\blahblahMSWord.Doc....isn't going to be a ball of fire through a thin VPN tunnel with a bunch of users doing this. Or trying to share company files for some accounting program.

However..for one or two users, some lightweight program that runs on some ODBC database engine may work fine.

More common is using remote desktop services/terminal server through a VPN....for heavier programs, instead of trying to run a program through the VPN.

[rhewitt]

My father and I have the Same ISP/Cable Company but we want to link our networks for different reasons. Aside from sharing some files, we want to link the networks so that we can play Xbox 360 games over the lan. Neither of us wants to pay for the Xbox Live service since we only pay against each other. His network consists of 2 computers and his xbox 360 on wireless on a Linksys Wireless DSL Router. My network is just a but more involved then his. I have a I have IPcop running on an old compaq PII 333mhz machine and a PIV 1.8Ghz running Fedora 7 strictly as a file server only. I don't want to expose it to a direct connection to the internet. Like I said all we are interested in is Gaming against each other and some simple file sharring. As for the file sharing I'd want it to ge as simple as possible click on Network neighborhood and see all the computer in both networks. I have a Static IP address and he can get on if he wants too.


RObert
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