I set up a VPN in Windows XP just by creating a new network connection for VPN on each computer using PPTP. I can connect to it, but it seems as though all my internet traffic is being tunneled through the server. Is this supposed to happen? Is there a way just so that files can be shared, and traffic isn't tunneled through it? Thanks

Firewall or nat out the vpn connection. "VPN connections allow users working at home or on the road to obtain a remote access connection to an organization server using the infrastructure provided by a public internetwork such as the Internet. From the user's perspective, the VPN is a point-to-point connection between the computer, the VPN client, and an organization server, the VPN server. The exact infrastructure of the shared or public network is irrelevant because it appears logically as if the data is sent over a dedicated private link." Your connection now is as if a local lan computer for the most part. I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.

I cannot give you a detailed answer, but the last time, and it has been a year or so, that I set up the same type of connection I had the same issue. The problem was the default gateway on the connecting computer. As I said I don't remember how I fixed it but that was the issue. Hopefully this points you in the right direction.

What type of connetion does Hamachi use? It says it's VPN, but it doesnt tunnel traffic through it. Only data destined for the other host is sent to it it.. that is pretty much what I want. Is there another way to create a connection like Hamachi does? I'm curious about the inter-workings and would like to know how to set up a connection like this manually without using an easy program like Hamachi.