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[stiaand]

Hi!
My situation is kinda complicated. I live in a student dorm, and to be able to access the internet, I have to dial up a VPN connection. I still haven't found a router that can do this for me, so to be able to connect a) my workstation, b) my two laptops, c) my phone and d) my two Xbox 360's to the internet, I have to share my connection from the workstation via Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

This solution has worked previously, by sharing the internet connection through my workstation's secondary ethernet card, through a HP switch and finally to a 3Com wireless access point.

I recently purchased the D-Link DIR-615, wanting to upgrade to 802.11n for my wireless devices. However, it has not been a smooth sailing as I had hoped. I wanted to use the DIR-615 as an access point and just connecting my workstation to the LAN port instead of WAN, but it seems the DIR-615 needs a DHCP server to give it an IP address if it is to work as an access point. I've tried some DHCP servers on my workstation, but no luck.

I've had some success setting the DIR-615 to use static IP (192.168.1.1 - with DHCP enabled), but then I was unable to access my workstation (which I had to put on another subnet; 192.168.0.1) over the network from my phone and my laptop.

Can someone please help me? What I need is AP mode to work with static IP, but it seems the software won't let me. Sorry if my explanation of my network setup was unclear, I can draw up a simple schematic of my network if that will be of any help.

[carbonic]

If it's a PPTP(Microsoft) VPN network, I am pretty sure that you can use the third party firmware DD-WRT to enable VPN in your router thus solving all your problems

[stiaand]

Already tried that, didn't work.

[Trikein]

Already tried that, didn't work.

This is one of the most complicated set ups I have seen on one of these forums. Multiple connections with port forwarding and DNS through a switch, router, a access point and ICS all having to be driven through a VPN? I think you need a proffesional home visit. I mean I could do it if I was there..but damn, this really isn't in the scope of free support. Least thats MHO. Good luck though

[stiaand]

Haha, yeah, if there ever was a definition for "a [female dog] and a half", this is it.
However, I think you may have misunderstood how the setup currently works, so I'll try again:

1) Cabled connection from wall socket to workstation (NIC 1)
2) VPN connection on workstation (NIC 1)
3) VPN connection shared with ICS to NIC 2 (with the same DNS servers that VPN uses)
4) Cabled connection from workstation (NIC 2) to transparent switch
5) Cabled connection from switch to 3Com access point or D-Link DIR-615 if I could get that to work how I want it to
6) ...finally, I can connect my wireless devices to the internet without having to dial VPN on those devices too (which cannot be done on a Xbox 360)

So...if there is any way to get the DIR-615 to replace step 2 through 5, I would be a very happy man. As said, I have tried the PPTP client in DD-WRT with no success, and I'm pretty sure I set it up correctly.

This network is obviously set up for browsing the web, and not for more advanced users like myself.

[Trikein]

1. At step one, do you mean cable as in coaxal? Or RJ45? So your running of your dorm's internal network?
2. What kind of VPN is it? Do you know for a fact its a PPTP or is that just what you tried? Could it be a IPsec? Or some other type?
3. I would probably first work on connecting Wall Socket>DIR-615>NIC1 via VPN. Once that is done, NIC2(that should be easy) and then add the access point.
4. Are you in good relations with your work's IT and your school's help desk?
5. Why do you need the access point? Range exstender, or can that go if your get the DIR-615 online?
6. No matter how you set this up, this is going to be $h!t for gaming. Between the two NAT's, latency caused by the VPN, and other factors I cant even guess..is there any reason you can just order internet service from a ISP? It would simplify everything a TON.

[stiaand]

1. At step one, do you mean cable as in coaxal? Or RJ45? So your running of your dorm's internal network?
2. What kind of VPN is it? Do you know for a fact its a PPTP or is that just what you tried? Could it be a IPsec? Or some other type?
3. I would probably first work on connecting Wall Socket>DIR-615>NIC1 via VPN. Once that is done, NIC2(that should be easy) and then add the access point.
4. Are you in good relations with your work's IT and your school's help desk?
5. Why do you need the access point? Range exstender, or can that go if your get the DIR-615 online?
6. No matter how you set this up, this is going to be $h!t for gaming. Between the two NAT's, latency caused by the VPN, and other factors I cant even guess..is there any reason you can just order internet service from a ISP? It would simplify everything a TON.

1) RJ45
2) PPTP
3) If I connect the DIR-615 directly to the RJ45 wall socket, I'll have to dial up VPN on all devices to get internet access.
4) I am "the network guy" in my building, but it doesn't come with any extra privelegies. I simply get paid a small amount of money for being able to help others who live in the same building to get connected to the internet. I could try talking with the guys at the university's IT dept., but I think that will be like talking to a brick wall.
5) I can specify a static LAN IP on the access point, something I can't do with the DIR-615 in AP mode (it requires that I have a DHCP to give it an IP address). The DIR-615 was supposed to replace the AP.
6) Actually, it isn't that s***ty once it works how it should. When playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox Live, I am usually the one to host the games, since I have the fastest connection. I can't have a commercial ISP on my dorm. It just simply can't be done.

[Trikein]

Sorry man, just not enough info. Cant troubleshoot this one through a keyhole.  If anyone wants to take a shot at it, go ahead, but I'm out.