Question : Connecting 2 Remote Offices To Corporate LAN

Hi,

I am trying to connect 2 remote offices to the LAN at our main office. All locations are using Win 2000 pro, Win XP home. I need to be able to run a program that uses an IDAPI database located in the corporate LAN server. All locations have DSL internet (always on). I tried using the VPN on the XP Pro but it was so slow the application timed out. I have a static IP at the main office and Intellisync routers at all 3 sites.

Answer : Connecting 2 Remote Offices To Corporate LAN

One of your problems will be trying to use XP Home in a corporate LAN/WAN environment.

Microsoft strongly discourages use of XP home in a corporate LAN/WAN environment. That's why XP home has the "home" part in its name - it is not made for professional use. The networking functions have been deliberately crippled so as to encourage use of XP Pro, which will cost your company more money, but has the full range of networking functionality you will need.

Another problem is the use of XP pro as any kind of server.  Microsoft deliberately crippled the server functionality of XP Pro so as to encourage the use of Win2K Server or Win2K3 Server for server-class processes.

To get your LAN and WAN to where it seems you want it to be, you have to stop trying to do it "on the cheap" and go with the platforms Microsoft wants you to use.