Can Computer talk to Other computers a different network without VPN?

[kopfconsulting]

In our office we have a primary internet connection and a backup connection that is currently unused. I'd like to figure out if it's possible for one or more computers on our network to use the backup connection instead of the main connection and still have access to the other computers on the network (ie File Server).

 

In other words,  we have two completely separate internet connections (think Cable and DSL). The computers here don't need to be able to access both internet connections but I'd like one or two computers to use the backup connection only AND still have access to the rest of the network. Is this possible without using VPN?

[Stokkolm]

Nothing about having two internet connections would stop you from accessing the LAN. In order to have some computers use one connection over the other you would either have to have a nice firewall, like a Palo Alto, Cisco ASA, Checkpoint, etc... or a router. Do you know what's currently in place in that regard?

[+theblazingangel MVC]

 

In our office we have a primary internet connection and a backup connection that is currently unused. I'd like to figure out if it's possible for one or more computers on our network to use the backup connection instead of the main connection and still have access to the other computers on the network (ie File Server).

 

In other words,  we have two completely separate internet connections (think Cable and DSL). The computers here don't need to be able to access both internet connections but I'd like one or two computers to use the backup connection only AND still have access to the rest of the network. Is this possible without using VPN?

 

 

A VPN has nothing to do with what you need. An IPSec VPN would be required for security should you say be networking two branch offices over the internet.

 

What you require is routing. You need to configure routing on your network equipment to use one external route for traffic from one set of local hosts, and the other external route for the other set of local hosts. The hosts should ideally be placed into separate IP subnets for easier routing configuration.

 

Correct routing configuration should not affect the ability of these host machines to connect to other devices on the local network.

 

Do you not have a network engineer to implement this?

[+BudMan MVC]

I think you guys are confusing these as 2 different locations, sounds like 1 location to me. And he wants machine A to use connection 1 to hit google and machine B to use connection 2 when it goes to say neowin.

This is a simple a load balancing router, or sure could be done by hand. I take it these 2 internet connections endpoint at 2 different routers?

If you can draw up your network, with what equipment you are using be more than happy to let you know how to leverage the 2nd connection.

Lets say you have this

If you connect router B to your network, and give it an IP on the same network, then point your clients to it as the gateway - they would use it to talk to the internet, but would still be talking to your other devices on that network, etc.

So if you give us some details, with what equipment your working with, how your computers are currently connected - same switch, multiple switches. I assume they are all on 1 network now, not multiple segments? We can walk you through how to do this. Other option is buy a router that supports more than 1 internet connection and can do load balancing using both, etc..

http://www.amazon.com/Peplink-Balance-20-Dual-WAN-Router/dp/B0042210U6

edit: Noticed a bit of at typo in my example drawings - that is not suppose to be 1.00 that is suppose to be say 192.168.1.100

[+John Teacake MVC]

Dreytek Do something similar to the above.... Just saying  :shiftyninja:

[+BudMan MVC]

There are many multiwan routers on the market - this was just first example I could find that was somewhat budget minded and allowed me to give a nice picture of the 2 wan ports, along with it clearly say 2 wan, and even showing more than one with other options in the amazon section, etc.

You can do it with something as simple as $20 router running dd-wrt

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Dual,_Triple_(and_probably_quad)_WAN_with_multiple_active_WAN_links_and_source_routing

If u were running pfsense or ipcop, or etc.. any of the many router/firewall distros also have multiwan support, etc ;)