Q & A: Vista VPN routing issue

[chicagotech]

For the security reason it is better to use "Use default gateway on remote
network". If for some reasons you don't want to do so, you may need to change the vista VPN client routing table.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com

Here is my scenario:

2 Vista Machines, both on different home networks.
Windows 2003 Server in office as VPN server

I can connect just fine from both machines to the VPN. Authentication goes
smoothly, etc. No problems connecting. Appears to work fine. I am assigned
the correct IP address and DNS servers.

I cannot, however, access anything on the work network. It's almost as if
i'm not really connected. I still can access the internet and my home
networks. But nothing on the work network.

If i modify the VPN properties and check the "Use default gateway on remote
network" and reconnect, i can suddenly access everything on my work network.
However, this means ALL of my internet traffic is going through the VPN,
which is not good.

One day, i was able to actually connect without the default gateway checkbox
and have it work properly. THe next day it stopped working. It almost seems
random.

I have another machine (XP) on one of my home networks and it connects just
fine. That's why i'm posting this in a Vista forum.

Thanks for any help you can share with me.

-Tim