Unable to connect to a share folder trough VPN when connecting from within a network

Question

on our main office network I defined a VPN within a TP-Link router to allow connection from outside office to two local servers (Windows Server 2008) where there are few shared folders and a web application. When at home, with my laptop (Windows 10) connected to the Internet (hotspot with my telephone) I can connect to the office via VPN and access both the web application and the shared folders. Problems start when I want to access the shared folders via VPN from another office site using a computer in a local network. VPN starts normally and I can even access the web application, but there is no way to access the shared folders. Here is what I have tried:

1. Enabled SMB1, client and server, on Windows Features;
2. Changed the workgroup name on the remote computer to be the same as the workgroup in the main office network (this solved the problem on my home laptop);
3. Verified that the Workstation service is running on the remote computer;
4. Verified that Network discovery and file and print sharing is enabled on remote computer;

I suppose that there is nothing more to do on the router or on the server, once everything work fine with my home laptop using the VPN.

From the remote computer in the second office I can ping the two servers when connected with the VPN and I get an IP address from the router DHCP, which allows me to open a web browser with a local address (in the main office) where we have a web application.

I am stuck at this point and cannot find a similar problem description (and possible solution) on posts on the Internet.

Any help greatly appreciated.

ipconfig from home laptop (where everything work fine) PPP Adapter VPN: IPv4 Address 10.105.40.201 Subnet mask 255.255.255.255 Default gateway 0.0.0.0

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi: IPv4 Address 192.168.43.100 Subnet mask 255.255.255.0 Default gateway 192.168.43.1

ipconfig from second office's computer (where I cannot connect to the share folders on the main office) PPP Adapter VPN: IPv4 Address 10.105.40.200 Subnet mask 255.255.255.255 Default gateway 0.0.0.0

Ethernet adapter: IPv4 address 192.168.0.30 Subnet mask 255.255.255.0 Default gateway 192.168.0.1

Answer 1

Problems start when I want to access the shared folders via VPN from another office site using a computer in a local network.

You know the VPN is working properly when off the main network. So the setup is likely good.

The company network is very likely on the same subnet as the VPN and that prevents connecting to folders. You need a different subnet in this office environment.