In order to "browse" the networks, you need a WINS server on both sides, that is, one WINS server on the laptop/telecommuting side and one WINS server on the home/corporate network, plus a few more steps of Samba tweaks which I won't go into.

Practical work around solution:
For the road warrior or telecommuter to access a "network share"
(1) Establish a PPTP VPN connection to the home/corporate office.
(2) On the road warrior or telecommuting side, pop a "cmd" screen, click Start...Run...cmd
(3) net  use  z:  \\192.168.1.99\common   123456   /USER:john
Assume these configuration settings are in place:
(a) the "file server" computer (Windows share or Linux Samba) has an IP address 192.168.1.99,
(b) the server has a shared folder named "common",
(c) the server allows the user "john" with password "123456" to access the shared folder.
(4) (still in the black cmd screen) explorer z: 
(5) To disconnect the network share, pop a "cmd screen" (see step 2) net  use   z:   /delete

For detailed information about the "net" command, type  net  use  /?
For easy of operation, create a batch file to do (3) and (4).

In step (3), if the username and password are the same on both the user's XP laptop and the server,
then simply type  net  use  z:  \\192.168.1.199\common

Hint: if you want to edit a Word or Excel file on a remote share folder, it is faster to fetch the file onto your local machine, edit the file on your local machine, then drag it back to the shared folder after you finish editing.

Close 

© 2007 Nicholas Fong