Ok, multiple questions here. Any help on any would be helpful. 1) I just got DSL set up at my Dad's house, and I've always used a Linksys Cable Modem Router to route and secure my machines. Now, this router, obviously does most of the same. My problems: I can't seem to serve FTP or HTTP servers from my static IP'ed computer, that I have DMZ set up for off of my router. I implore you to try, if you go to http://74.32.115.239 , you will get my Router's log in page. Not the DMZ'ed and Port forwarded, Port 80, to my machine that is serving my page. ftp://74.32.115.239 should be a ftp server, and I don't believe that, that works either. So there are two questions, one is why my router's log in is available, and why the DMZ doesn't work. 2) I have a VPN that connects to my girlfriend's machine. She has a shared hard drive, but I can't actually access it. When I connect, it connects, speedily, and then that's it. My internet drops, and I just have a 'connection' to her. Any ideas on how to get a VPN to let me see her files? Isn't that what VPN's are for? I read through multiple posts, and no one actually answered this question. Can you, and would you, be able to access files, remotely, across a VPN? Any information is helpful. Thanks, Brian

I went to http://74.32.115.239 (from outside of your firewall on the internet) and got something beginning to talk about a question of wedding photos. Doing an ftp to the same address I get an FTP login from a bulletproof ftp server. There is only a problem with the way the systems inside the firewall are routed.

Ah, well, interesting. If I am on the inside of the firewall, and shoot my browser to either address, I get my firewall's log in. The same I would get if I pointed to its internal address (192.168.254.254). But that's interesting that it works. I guess because when I was on Time Warner's RR, that it worked if I pointed my browser to my outside IP address, if a near zero ping response. Now, the VPN question. Thanks again. Brian

This is a repost as one of my two questions on my previous post was answered. My last question remains. As with a number of VPN questions, my answer wasn't found. In: http://computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/128503.html and http://computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/98388.html People have asked if you can use VPN for sharing files. I have successfully set up a VPN, but I can't access files. My internet access then goes dead with the only exception of the 'connection' to the other machine. I guess what good is a VPN if you can't access files, ect? Thanks, Brian

What OS is your g/f running? Is it a Server edition? Check your VPN Client Settings. Go into the Advanced TCP/IP Settings and make sure that the box for "Use Default Gateway on Remote Network" is UNCHECKED. Document her PC's internal IP address. Once connected, try some ping tests in both directions. Post your results.

VPNs are meant for you to be considered as part of her internal network. You'll get an IP address of the order assigned by her router in addition to your IP address, and you'll be able to perform all of the functions that you would've been able to do if you were physically connected as part of her internal network. Ofcourse, that includes filesharing too. For that she would have to share the files that you need to access. Think of it this way - if you vpn into her house, you become another computer on her network. Only if she shares her files, can any other computer on the network see it... same case! If it is shared, then try going to the search menu and searchin for Computers>Her computer name! Also once the vpn is connected, go into Start>Run>type her internal IP address. This should list all the shared files she has. A question...since you already know to setup and use an FTP server, why ddint you consider doing this at her end to share her files? Isnt this an easier option?