Connecting two workgroups from different buildings

[flteng]

The networks are setup as follows:

Bldg 1 – Road Runner Business Class with dynamic IP’s behind a NetGear FVS318 Router connected to a 24 port switch with 6 XP pro machines networked in a workgroup.

Bldg 2 – BellSouth partial T1 line with static IP,s (18 total) connected to a Bellsouth supplied Cisco router connected to a 24 port switch. With 4 Pc’s in a workgroup. Will be connecting the remaining 14 once the new school year starts.

Both bldgÂ’s are connected via a fiber line. The line is connected to the switch in bldg 2

Before the RR Business Class was installed in bldg. 1, I was able to have two of the PcÂ’s in bldg 2 join the workgroup in bldg 1 to access QuickBooks Pro. Since the RR service was installed last week I can no longer see the other workgroup. Is there a workaround for this to allow the 2 PCÂ’s to access the workgroup in Bldg. 1? without setting up a VPN connection?

 

[jenn_1206]

On Windows XP-based computers that are configured as members of a workgroup in a peer-to-peer network environment, you may experience one or more of the following behaviors:
- You cannot access shared folders or files.
- You cannot locate other computers in the workgroup.

You receive the following error message when you double-click the workgroup in My Network Places:
- Workgroup Name is not accessible. You may not have permission to use this network resource.

CAUSE
This behavior may occur if both the following conditions are true:
- NetBIOS over TCP/IP is not turned on (enabled) on one or more computers in the workgroup.
- The Computer Browser service is not started or is turned off on one or more computers in the workgroup.

RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is turned on and the Computer Browser service is running on each computer in the workgroup. To do this, follow these steps.

Step 1: Turn on NetBIOS over TCP/IP
Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network and Internet Connections.
- Click Network Connections.
- Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
- Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
- Click the General tab, and then click Advanced.
- Click the WINS tab.
- Under NetBIOS setting, click Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP, and then click OK two times.
- Click Close to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.
- Close the Network Connections window.

Step 2: Start the Computer Browser service
- Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
- Double-click Services and Applications.
- Double-click Services.
- In the right pane, right-click Computer Browser, and then click Start.
- Close the Computer Management window.

Hope this helps!

 

[flteng]

Thanks Jenn_1206 for the info. I will try it out tonight.

 

[wansingct]

With one side having static IP's you should be able to create a VPN to the remote side. Are you running PPP or Frame Relay between your buildings or do you have a dedicated fiber line (not through the isp's) between the buildings??

 

[flteng]

Change two to the VPN saga.

Building two now has RoadRunner BusinessClass with Dynamic IP addressing. So now, both buildings have dynamic addressing. It may be simpler to just purchase another FVS 318 Netgera router and create a tunnel between the two. Any thoughts on this?