VPN Unable to access Shared Folders

We have a windows xp sp2 client connecting to sbs 2003 via vpn.

the client cannot see any shared folders. I have given the user acces rights
to the folder.

Any ideas?

OK... so what happens when he/she tries?

Note that SBS does many things its own way, and it's best to post in
microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs for the most help. I'm setting up this
reply to crosspost there.

Also note that a VPN connection does not work like a LAN connection. It
simply gives you an IP connection. It doesn't send or receive LAN
broadcasts, so the browser service doesn't work. It doesn't automatically do
a domain login, so the user is probably still using the local login
credentials. (The username and password you specify at connection time are
used only to authorize the connection).

Does the user see the shares using net view \\servername? If the user
can do that, he/she can map a share using a net use command. This allows you
to specify a username and password as well.

mapping drives does not work either. However the strange thing is that Once
offline files are synched the client can aacces the shared folders.

Any ideas what this may be? Is there a way to have the client see the shares
without the need to sych first?

I don't know
(If someone does please post)

Bill, but like you said Sync-offline folders seems to work,
and that's what I tell people to do once they VPN in.

Once they understand to do this, it will become habit
and even though it's an annoyance It works.

What happens if they try to open \\server\share? What happens if they just
try to open \\server ?
I don't use offline files, but it's possible that this is how it works -
they have to sync first. Dunno.

When i try to map a drive before synching i get the standard "cannot find
\\server\share" (word to that effect) message. After syncing I can map drives
few folders and network shares and everything behaves as it should.

So it would appear that once a vpn connection is established the client MUST
sync before the network shares are available to it?

Is this really how its meant to be?

I use VPN without offline files and do not have these problems. Can you test
from another client that doesn't have offline files enabled? A
non-domain-member?

[sauravjung]

Can you pls advs me on how to do this syncing from VPN client...I am having same problem ie, while logged via VPN the user is unable to access or view any share folder

You are replying to an old posting from 10/2008. So please create your own
one with the exact problem description and OS version which are used.

Best regards