While I'm not "expert", I would think the problem is that you are connecting to a domain through your VPN. I don't think you can connect to 2 networks at the same time, so you wouldn't be able to be signed onto one network through your VPN and then print through another (your home network). I think for it to work, you would have to have the printer directly connected to your laptop.

I could be wrong, but that is my gut feeling.

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Clarify: Are you saying that the printer is wireless or it's part of a wireless network? If the latter how and to what is it connected? I am guessing that everything is on the same network correct? Maybe this might help. http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windo...onnection.html

I'm guessing here but it seem to me that you should click on Add Printer and select the
Networked Printer option -- your devices will show up if you have enabled
File/Print sharing on your system AND have elected to share your printer.

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I have the same problem at home..... It is because the company has configured the VPN to not allow local network access when the VPN is connected. This helps to keep the corp network safe from the "dangers" home networks could cause to the corp network. It is really annoying but I understand their reasoning. If you are running the Cisco VPN client you will notice a setting regarding local network access. You might be able to enable it and get it to work unless the company has set a strict policy.

On your VPN client disable "use remote gateway" for all traffic and that should help.

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when you're logged in via VPN your "default printer" setting is probably changed via login script or group policay.

go to start>setttings>printers and faxes> and right click on your local printer and then click on "set as default" and you should be fine.


if not, let me know, and i'll talk you through it.

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Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think Derek is right - the VPN (Nortel Contivity) is not allowing me to connect to my home network - and yes, the policies at my company are very tight with this sort of stuff.

Gresch - the printer is already set as default - doesn't seem to change when I connect into work.

Mickey - doesn't look like there's anything at all that I can change & I didn't see a remote gateway option.

Barry - yes - the printer's on a wireless network - the printer itself is not wireless. The printer is not shared but all 4 of my home machines can print - just not my work laptop when it's connect to work via VPN.

Any other ideas? Does this mean I'll need to connect my work laptop directly to the printer with a wire? I'm wondering if even that will work because I'll also need to connect it to the wireless router (home network) so the other computers can print.

Thanks again, guys...

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what ip subnet is your home network? and what ip address does your printer have?

try to ping your printer when you're connected to the VPN. maybe it's an IP conflict between the subnet that your work vpn is on and your home network.

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The VPN client for your work may have a security policy that disables all local subnets/ LAN access when online. I enforce that at my place. If security guys at your place are doing their job then you should not be able to print when on work VPN. Split-tunneling is only way out of this.

That's some tight security, what industry are you in?

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