Hi, I hope you can help me. I've got one NT 4.0 server in the UK which is behind a Cisco 2600 router (NAT enabled), no firewall, with 2mb Internet link, and another similar setup in the US, but with a 1mb link. ...you've guessed it, I would like to link the two, mainly for sharing of information reasons, IE shared DB files and one joint email system (Exchange)..etc. Am I looking at a VPN between the two using the Internet connections we already have? If so, will this connection speed be too slow to make a successfull domain out of it? Is there another way to link the two, maybe by just having one logon to the other, without any synconizing etc going on, but one that will allow me (and the users) to get to remote shares etc. Last question...will I be able to continue adding Servers in this way, IE, If I install another similar setup in say Hongkong, will I be able to link to the other two? Many thanks for any thoughts on this. Even a pointer to some place taking about remote links etc would help. Jeff

That's a BIG POND... Point to Point T1 via Atantic Crossing isn't cheap... If the cost is a factor ... look into going Frame Relay and you could always go with software VPN. In anycase, your Corporate office or the office with the Database Server needs the larger pipe if you plan on expanding with couple of remote locations connecting to your UK office. The Cisco 2600 should take in several connections... not sure exactly how many but couple of remote location is not a big deal... the remote locations may use your UK office like it's their own LAN... just a little slower but a 1~2MB connection should be fine... You should call Global Crossing since they have the largest Atantic Crossing data pipe so far. (NASDAQ: GBLX)

...sorry, I don't think I explained some of it very well :- We don't want a point to point (leased lines), we just want to use our Internet connections that we have already have to connect the two sites. There won't be any "remote" sites par se. When they do come online, they will all look like the above two sites, IE 1 x NT Server, 1 x router and 1 x T1 (or equivalent) Internet link. I don't want an NT domain, just the ability to logon and use site A's share folder from site B etc. Are there any problems when connecting NT boxes with disparate IP addressing schemes (and subnets), and when both are PDC's...or dosnt this come into it? Thanks for your help Jeff

Even though this thread is old I'll give you a suggestion. If you are using routers that are capable of supporting GRE tunnels (cisco's are) I would setup something like that. If security is of a concern, and the country overseas allows encryption of some type you could setup IPSEC over the GRE tunnel.