want to add VPN to our network

Hi-

I manage a very small network for my father's company. Some of the
employees would like to work from home occasionally. They need to open
office documents, art assets, etc. I don't know too much about VPN, but
from what I have read I think this would be the best solution. From what I
understand, if we had VPN services running on the office server, users at
home could establish a 'tunnel' and would then have access to the server's
files. I would like to ask a couple questions here and hopefully some of
you can clear some things up and or point me in the correct direction.

Here goes;

1) Do I need additional hardware to setup a VPN server? For example, would
I need a product from Linksys, Netgear, etc?
2) when a client connects from home(or other location) will they see the
servers shared folders the same as if they were at the machine in the
office(assuming they map the drives and all that)?
3) Does windows2000 server offer a good VPN server solution?
4) If a user has a small network at home(my father does) that has a DC with
a domain different from that of the office domain, will they have a harder
time establishing a connection?

yes VPN.
1. No, if you have windows server, you can setup a VPN without additional
software and hardware. However, you are better to have a router/firewall
protect your system.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. No.

--
For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

"sklett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi-
>
> I manage a very small network for my father's company. Some of the
> employees would like to work from home occasionally. They need to open
> office documents, art assets, etc. I don't know too much about VPN, but
> from what I have read I think this would be the best solution. From what
> I
> understand, if we had VPN services running on the office server, users at
> home could establish a 'tunnel' and would then have access to the server's
> files. I would like to ask a couple questions here and hopefully some of
> you can clear some things up and or point me in the correct direction.
>
> Here goes;
>
> 1) Do I need additional hardware to setup a VPN server? For example,
> would
> I need a product from Linksys, Netgear, etc?
> 2) when a client connects from home(or other location) will they see the
> servers shared folders the same as if they were at the machine in the
> office(assuming they map the drives and all that)?
> 3) Does windows2000 server offer a good VPN server solution?
> 4) If a user has a small network at home(my father does) that has a DC
> with
> a domain different from that of the office domain, will they have a harder
> time establishing a connection?
>
>

Thanks for the response!

So to use the software VPN in windows2000, I would just need to add an
additional nic, give it a different IP, then setup the router to forward the
VPN ports to the second nic on the server?

Standard windows clients can then connect?

Sounds too easy...
I am reading about all the problems people are having, but it sounds so
simlpe. I will try this later and see what happens. Thank you for your
answers!

-Steve




"Robert L [MS-MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> yes VPN.
> 1. No, if you have windows server, you can setup a VPN without additional
> software and hardware. However, you are better to have a router/firewall
> protect your system.
> 2. Yes.
> 3. Yes.
> 4. No.
>
> --
> For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>
> Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
> Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more
help.
>
> Robert Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
>
> "sklett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi-
> >
> > I manage a very small network for my father's company. Some of the
> > employees would like to work from home occasionally. They need to open
> > office documents, art assets, etc. I don't know too much about VPN, but
> > from what I have read I think this would be the best solution. From
what
> > I
> > understand, if we had VPN services running on the office server, users
at
> > home could establish a 'tunnel' and would then have access to the
server's
> > files. I would like to ask a couple questions here and hopefully some
of
> > you can clear some things up and or point me in the correct direction.
> >
> > Here goes;
> >
> > 1) Do I need additional hardware to setup a VPN server? For example,
> > would
> > I need a product from Linksys, Netgear, etc?
> > 2) when a client connects from home(or other location) will they see the
> > servers shared folders the same as if they were at the machine in the
> > office(assuming they map the drives and all that)?
> > 3) Does windows2000 server offer a good VPN server solution?
> > 4) If a user has a small network at home(my father does) that has a DC
> > with
> > a domain different from that of the office domain, will they have a
harder
> > time establishing a connection?
> >
> >
>
>