VPN (Windows XP SP2)

[MickeyShmack]

Hello,
I work for a small company of 10 users and we would like to give two of our subcontractors a way of accessing network resources. Right now we run XP Pro SP2 on all of our machines but we do not have a server. ( Basically a peer-peer network) I was wondering if it is at all possible to setup a VPN for the subcontrators to access our network. And I would like to know if this is impossible without running a server; what would be the appropriate way to set this up? Hardware? Third-party hosting? The owner is going to set up a server-client network but not for a while so he needs something right now and he does not like the option of using a third party host. Sorry about the length and content of my question but I really could use some help. Any response will be very much appreciated.

[JoeP517]

See Home and Small Office Networking with Windows XP and Working Remotely with Windows XP for all sorts of information on getting started with networking and remote access.

Joe

[JohnGray]

As well as the suggestions that Joe gives, Sunbelt Software speak Very Highly of their product Remote Administrator, which might be worth a look!

John

[bigaldoc]

Although 'not quite' what you asked for, RealVNC is <img src=/S/free.gif border=0 alt=free width=30 height=15> and pretty easy to setup. Of course, it means allowing one or more of your trusted subcontractors to 'access and operate' an existing PC in the workgroup. That could pose some logistics questions for you.

[JohnGray]

Al

Much the same as Remote Desktop via VPN?

John