I've not looked too closely. I am assuming this is a standard version. I've inherited this system. I'm a programmer/telecom tech with some limited knowledge of server. What I have is a need for a branch local machine to logon to the server for one folder. My question is do I have to create a vpn for each box? I already have a tunnel from the netgear router to the server, through a netgear. I want to create a link on the desktop of the needed users for a link to the server for one folder. I'm sorry I'm not the best at this, but would appreciate some reading suggestions or general help in the right direction. I'm learning.

"for a branch local machine " what does that mean? Branch office? "I already have a tunnel from the netgear router to the server" That is not how a vpn is setup. Router is configured to pass thru a vpn tunnel. I am going to assume your question is how to connect a branch office to the main office. Ideally you would have a router at each site that was capable of creating a site to site vpn. This would connect the two offices seemlessly. Or you put just a vpn capable router at the main office and have the branch office users launch the routers client vpn software to connect/authenicate to the router to then access the server/lan behind the main office router. This is a similar setup for those telecommuting. A not-so-elegant approach is with software. You setup RRAS on the server as a vpn server and each pc at the branch office has to then connect to the server via the vpn. Here is a 2000 server version of the software how to.

You will have to forgive my wording. Yes this is how it is setup ..." Ideally you would have a router at each site that was capable of creating a site to site vpn. This would connect the two offices seemlessly." So, using baby steps ... This connection exists and I want to move to the XP computer, which has a local user account. In this account, I want to create an icon that will link to a folder on the server (I can setup the user group on the server and allow permissions for just that folder.). Once this link is clicked, I want it to prompt username/password and they have the folder contents. :) I'm learning.

What are you using for a "server"? Are you running Active Directory on this server?

Yes, active directory, and I looked today when I had a problem with a batch file running through a router to a named pc. I have a better idea. (Which is still a problem, but fixable) It appears to me to be a remote desktop connection back to the server. I checked the properties on an old icon. This I can do, however, would I not have to set permissions/authorizations in active directory for the pc then and not the user? Can I not do it with a user logon? Again, I'm so sorry I'm out of my element! I thank you all so much for all of your patience and your time. I'm learning.

An rdp connection is like a thin client connection in that the pc does not have to be joined to the domain [AD]. There does need to be a valid account with password on the server so the user can logon.

I'm no expert on servers but i have used remote desktop several times to get round some problems including a file that was too large to pass through email systems that was needed urgently to fix a bug. We set up a remote desktop and literally cut and pased from one window to another to do the file transfer, it took a while due to the file size and limitations of the ADSL connection, this would apply to any set up though. It did work and remote desk top allows all sorts of other things to be done remotely with minimal traffic over the connection. Other than that I know you can set remote access permision up in a user profile and to access the machine this way a fixed IP address is required but I am sure there is a lot more to this than I know.