merging two networks

[ZippyDan]

i have two small networks in two different cities. each network has 3 computers, 6 computers total. each site shares 1 internet connection. what do i need to do so that all 6 computers can see each other as if they were on the same network?

i was told i need to

1. configure routers
2. establish VPN tunnel(s) (if i want encryption)
3. setup WINS

most of these computers are running Win98 (ugh). i was told i need to install something NT-based (like Win2k Server) on at least 1 computer at each location for WINS. i currently have access to WinNT 4, Win2k Pro and WinXP Pro, but i dont know if thse do WINS.

i have no idea how to configure my routers, establish VPN tunnels (ill need one of those routers that support multiple VPN tunnels?), or setup WINS to make this work. anyone know?

~Zippy!

 

[MysticLlama]

Is this a low budget project, or do you have some $$ to spend?

The reason I ask is that for around $900ish you could pick up two Cisco PIX501s, set up a tunnel between them, and then not be reliant on the software configs, whether those particular boxes are up or not, etc.

You wouldn't need to use WINS if you didn't want to, you could either put them all in each others host files (feasible since there are only 6 of them) or run a DNS server that they all do lookups from.

 

[ZippyDan]

it is low budget

~Zippy!

 

[ZippyDan]

hi need help.

do i need a router that support multiple VPN tunnels? for both sites or only one site (the incoming site)?
what do i need to configure on the routers to get this working?
i only need one WINS server for each site? or only one WINS server period?
how do i setup a WINS server? can XP Pro do a WINS server?
what is a good program to do VPN (for those Win98 PCs that dont have VPN built-in)? does every computer need VPN installed? for all 6 computers to be able to see each other, does there need to be 18 different VPN tunnels (6 computers x 3 foreign computers) or is that what the WINS server does?

~Zippy@

 

[spidey07]

zippy,

The solution has already been presented. Get two firewalls/routers and run a VPN tunnel between them.

On the WINs server side you only need one. 2000 server can be one as well as linux (I believe). The WINS server allows microsoft networks to "see" each other.