Advice Needed: Turning 2 seperate offices into 1 giant lan (W2K)

[Futeki]

Each office has a network but no server. All machines go into a hub so they can see each other on the network - just a standard 100mb hub. One of the machines in each office has an internet connection, and shares that net connection through ICS. Obviously everyone on the network can get net access that way.

My problem is though, these 2 offices want to be able to see each others networks. How do I go about that? They all want to be able to share files with each other. I guess I need to setup a VPN but I don't really know where to start. The 2 offices are too far apart to just run a cable, so all I have at my disposal is the fact that both offices have a fast DSL connection on one of the machines in each office.

Any advice? What should I do?

[jdharm]

I'd go with a wireless bridge. One wireless access point with bridging capability in each room. When you put the wireless access point in bridge mode then it will only communicate with the MAC address of the other access point. This and WEP encryption make the system fairly (though never completely) secure. If you have interference problems there are all manner of specialized antennae you can use to improve the performance and range of the link.

The access points and special antennae (if necessary) can each be had for under $80 (D-link DWL-1000AP for $72+s&h at Pricewatch.com and going for $65 and under at eBay) and seems fairly simple to install and configure. Just plug into the hubs and identify the access points to one another:

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.bluestream.org/Networking/WirelessBridge.htm>http://www.bluestream.org/Networking/WirelessBridge.htm</a>

Josh

[i]Sorry folks, I'm an idiot. Moose out front shoulda told ya. [i]

[mysterywolf]

Do you mean use only one line???
ICS and VPN should never be on the same machine.