Question : Connecting to Windows Server 2003 via VPN

I recently setup a VPN and I have a few questions. FYI, I can connect fine and everything seeme to be working great.

1) I have a few development websites setup on the office server. The office server has DNS records for easy access to these domains. For example, if there is a live website www.mydomain.com being hosted elsewhere then I'll setup dev.mydomain.com so that any requests within my network for the devlopment site get answered by the office server. With my VPN connected, the same requests at the remote location get answered correctly by the office server. All this being said... this made me think about internet access from my remote location. If my office server is handling my development DNS requests when I'm connected to the VPN, then does that mean that any websites I request are going through this path: remote computer <-> remote network <-> internet/VPN <-> office network <-> office server <-> office network <-> internet? This is kind of a rhetorical question because when I do a trace route when connected to the VPN I see the routers of my office ISP provider and when the VPN is off I see the routers of my remote office ISP. This obviously slows down internet requests since I'm limited to the throughput of the office upload speeds. I'd prefer that all requests for the internet are handled through the remote internet connection. Is this possible?

2) My remote XP machine is using the cached login/password to login to the office domain. After successfully logging in I connect to the VPN. I would prefer to log into the domain from the initial log in. It looks like I need to use the dial-up connection option when logging in, but I only see one option there for an AOL dial-up. No cracks about AOL, I only have it for web development : )  How do I get the VPN connection available at login?

Setup info:

- Office Location: Internet <-> Cable modem <-> Linksys router 192.168.44.1 <-> 192.168.44.2 Windows Server 2003 192.168.45.50 <-> 192.168.45.1XX Windows XP Pro
- Remote Location: Internet <-> DSL modem <-> Microsoft router 192.168.1.1 <-> 192.168.1.100 Windows XP Pro

Thanks!!!
-Ken

Answer : Connecting to Windows Server 2003 via VPN

Hi Ken,

1.      Internet is being supplied by VPN for security reasons, if you would be able to use VPN and surf the net not using VPN then somebody could hack you and he would have access to your network. Right now if somebody hacks you, your machine sends everything to the RRAS server instead of attacker.
There is way around and it is called split tunneling, you need to go to properties of VPN connection, Select TAB networking, double click TCP/IP click on advanced button, and uncheck “Use default gateway on remote network” checkbox. In the case when you have just one network behind RRAS\VPN everything will be cool, but if you have more than one, then you need to create static route on the client for those networks, because you are no longer using VPN as default gateway.

2.      I think in second question CMACK might do the job, you need.

Take Care

sebastian