Having my cake and eating it too - VPN and LAN question

  • Thread starter Thread starter rmayer99
  • Start date Start date
R

rmayer99

Hi all,

I would like to know if it is possible to be able to both have a VPN
session active to a remote site and still access a computer on my home
LAN at the same time.

Specifics:

I have two computers at home, a desktop and a laptop. The desktop is
connected directly (hardwired) to a wireless Netgear router, which then
connects to my cable modem and then to the Internet via my ISP (Cox).
The laptop connects via wireless to the same router and then to the
Internet. Both workstations can access the other via my home LAN, set
up with the usual Microsoft Networking wizards.

My question is: when I use my work VPN client on my laptop to access my
work's VPN server, I can no longer "see" my desktop via my home LAN. Is
there a way to both access work via VPN AND access my desktop from my
laptop at the same time? I'd rather not have toggle the VPN off and on
to do so. Or is there just no way to break out of the VPN "tunnel"?
Thanks in advance!

Rob from AZ
 
It's usually called "split tunneling". Some VPN clients just call it
"allow access to local LAN" or the like. Check the settings in your
client.

Many VPNs allow the server to set this and don't allow the client to
change it; if that's the case, you'll need to talk to your
administrator.

It's a potential security issue, so don't be too surprised if he tells
you to get lost. However, if it's set up right the security issues can
be mitigated.
 
Back
Top