VPN Networking Question

[madman300]

If a user establishes a VPN to a third party to access files and services from their LAN but also navigates to regular public internet sites (google, gmail, etc) does the internet traffic get routed through the LAN to which the VPN is connected?

In other words, if you connected to a LAN through a VPN and at the same time downloaded an MP3 through ITunes would the file download affect the conntection (in terms of bandwidth) between the LAN and its ISP or would it just affect the connection between your PC and your ISP?

Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

It depends on the hardware; most entry level Network hardware would not let you parallel interaction with the Internet while maintaining an ongoing VPN connection.

http://www.ezlan.net/vpn.html

 

[redbeard1]

If you are using software to make the VPN, then it depends on its setup. The ipsec client we usually use lets you choose whether to force all traffic down the VPN or not.

 

[RebateMonger]

If you want to know for sure, you can try a "tracert" command for a random Internet address and see what the routing is.

 

[Tristor]

It depends entirely on how the VPN is setup, at which point it is setup, etc. In general, the case is as follows:

In a network-to-network VPN any local traffic headed to the internet but not headed to the opposite LAN is routed normally, only traffic headed for the opposite LAN is sent over the VPN. In a client to network, or client to server VPN any local traffic headed to the internet is routed over the VPN.

So, if you are referring to a case where you are using the VPN client included with Windows XP to connect to an IPSEC VPN setup elsewhere, yes, all your internet traffic will be routed to the VPN.

Oh, and if you are using a more versatile VPN client software, you can usually choose whether or not to send all traffic over the VPN.

 

[KingGheedora]

what about if you have two computers on a home LAN hooked up to the same router. One computer connects to a VPN server using windows VPN client. Does network traffic on the other PC (not connected to VPN) go over the VPN?

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora
what about if you have two computers on a home LAN hooked up to the same router. One computer connects to a VPN server using windows VPN client. Does network traffic on the other PC (not connected to VPN) go over the VPN?

No, it doesn't. It'll go out through its Default Gateway.

Even the Windows VPN client can select between using the VPN tunnel as the Gateway or use the PC's Default Gateway.