Some basic VPN questions

[lenwest]

I have set up my first VPN between 2 peer to peer networks each using Linksys RV082. I also set up a client to gateway connection.
After connecting, I can ping a remote computer by IP address but not by its computer name. I assume it's a DNS error but don't know what to change. Should I not be able to browse the host network for shared folders or computers? One network's IP is 192.168.10.1 and the other network's router's IP is 192.168.1.1
On the host Linksys config vpn summary page, it shows disconnected but I am connected on the client to gateway connection. ??? I am able to map a shared folder OK.
Neophyte questions but .............

[YeOldeStonecat]

Do you have any domain controllers? They should be used as the DNS server. If not...with VPN, "host" files are usually used for name resolution, or perform all requests via IP instead.

[lenwest]

Do you have any domain controllers? They should be used as the DNS server. If not...with VPN, "host" files are usually used for name resolution, or perform all requests via IP instead.

No domain controllers.
All computers running XP Pro. Peer to peer networks.
Can you give me a link to learn about setting up "host" files?
Is it not possible to browse for shared folders or computers on the peer to peer network?

[YeOldeStonecat]

OK so no local DNS.

First...I'd like to give another nudge to use resources from the "distant" LAN using IP addresses through the tunnel, instead of netbios names. Example..instead of trying to browse to \\servername\sharename...which is usually slow through a VPN tunnel, initially do a start==>run==> \\192.168.1.10 <substituting that IP for the actual resource IP that you want. Once the machine shows through explorer..you'll see its shared resources. Drag a shortcut to your desktop, or if you need a mapped drive for some reason..create one, or better yet..make a login script that runs in your startup folder.

Now...before doing this....since you're working via IP addresses...you'll want to have your resource PCs always have the same IP address, so create reservations in your routers DHCP service for the resource computers/servers.

Enabling netbios in your routers VPN tunnel setup with drastically slow down your VPN tunnel, you really don't need it, so try to keep it disabled.

For just about everything that you would run on a peer to peer network..you can usually do everything you need using IP only..instead of netbios names. It's quicker, and more reliable. Peer to peer networks are already sometimes flakely on their own local network when it comes to name resolution, due to many factors. VPN tunnels add a layer of complexity to this..making it even less reliable. But IP almost always works through a tunnel. ;)

If you need name resolution for some software...the host file..or actually "lmhost" file, (with Win2K and higher..both do the job..but historically it's actually the lmhost file for netbios)...located in the system32\drives\etc directory. There's a .sam file for each.."sample". And another copy with no extension..the one without the extension is the one you actually use. Google can cough up some links on how to edit them.

[lenwest]

Thanks very much for the informative response. I lurk this forum regularly and appreciate the advice from a "master". So, I will create static IP's for each computer I wish to access and access them by IP, as you recommend.
I was surprised at how easy it was to set up the VPN itself, both gateway to gateway and client to gateway.
Again, a big thank you!