Need Some PC/Networking Help

jyl · jyl's Garage

Okay, this is a question for you guys who know Windows, networking, and corporate IT.

In my office I have a desktop PC that is networked and thus sees the shared drives. I have administrator privileges on that desktop. That desktop has a single Ethernet port, which is used for the network connection.

I want to be able to connect a laptop to the desktop PC, in such way that the laptop will also see the shared drives and I would be able to use Windows' Offline File synchronization feature between that shared drive and the laptop. I have administrator privileges on that laptop.

(I can't simply plug the laptop into the network, since it is not officially supported by the corporate IT group.)

So, the solution I thought of was to connect the desktop PC and the laptop via a USB bridge cable in "network" mode.

Will this work? Or is it likely to be foiled by corporate IT security?

id10t · 04-02-2006, 11:35 AM

Likely to be foiled. If you aren't on a domain (use a workgroup instead, or non-MS network control like Novell, etc.) then you can just take a simple hub/switch to work and use it to split your single ethernet connection into 2 so you can have the desktop and laptop on teh network at the same time. Or sync the shares onto your desktop, unplug the desktop from the work network, and use a crossover ethernet cable (aka 2 port switch) to connect the laptop and desktop, then resync to the laptop.

mikester · 04-02-2006, 11:51 AM

It'll be foiled even if you get it working today. Bottom line is that if you're a publicly traded company and must maintain SOX compliance what you're trying to do is likely not allowed in the company policy; If not today then likely it will be prohibited soon.

I'm sure your intentions are good and wholesome as are most user's intentions but my suggestion as one of those corporate IT guys is to get the company to give you a laptop. If you need one barring bugetary constraints then you should have one to do your work.

By the way; I hate sox.

id10t · 04-02-2006, 05:10 PM

mikester has a valid point. if you *really* need to sync and work via the laptop, would it be possible for you to connect to the shares via vpn or even ssh tunnels?

jyl · jyl's Garage

I have a work laptop, a heavy, clunky, bulky Dell that has maybe 1.5 hours battery life and no WiFi. It just doesn't work for me. And that's the only model laptop that work buys.

Plan A is for me to buy a good laptop like an IBM X40, and get IT to support it. I'm even willing to give the machine to the company, so it becomes a "company owned" PC. I'm going to ask if they'll accomodate that.

Plan B is - well, the above was one try at Plan B.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Why not use a large capacity USB drive on the desktop - synchronize the files to it, then use same drive on the laptop?

jyl · jyl's Garage

That would work, or I could connect the desktop and laptop using a USB bridge cable in link mode. The disadvantage is I'd have to keep track of which files I'd modified and manually copy them over. Eventually I'll screw up and overwrite a newer file with an older. The networking idea was so that I could use Windows' Offine Files automatic synchronization. Well, I'll figure something out.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

There is always Plan C...

Get them to set you up with a VPN connection that you can log into from home on your laptop. Then, install RealVNC onto both your desktop and your laptop. Configure your desktop to run the VNC Program as a Server and your laptop as a Client.

Then, you simply make the VPN connection to work, and using the IP Address of your desktop, log your laptop in as a client. You will go directly to your desktop's desktop. It would be as though you were sitting in front of your work computer.

There is a bit of latency to deal with, but at least you would have access to the files you wanted.

Randy