Ask Me Help Desk - Connecting two networks

I need to connect two existing networks together. Currently there is a main network that has 15 computers and 2 servers with a high speed internet connection and static IPs. Second network has 6 computers and 1 server also with high speed internet and static IP. Currently second network connects via terminal server over internet, distance is 1 kilometer. I now have a wireless connection set up and they can connect directly. In order for this to work, as I have other locations connecting to the main network vie terminal server, I have to disconnect the internet on the second network. I would like both internet connections working, local area network connected via wireless for the two networks for shared printing and drives.
Is there a way I can connect the two networks together, maintain the two internet connections for redundancy purposes.
Any suggestions are appreciated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanR

I need to connect two existing networks together. Currently there is a main network that has 15 computers and 2 servers with a high speed internet connection and static IPs. Second network has 6 computers and 1 server also with high speed internet and static IP.

I don't believe that you can connect two high-speed networks together, but I no that you can set up so that if you have shared items on a server and a modem attached, you can do a VPN connection to connect the networks together. The VPN connection takes up very little bandwidth and doesn't use the full phone line, but I suggest you have them on a separate line. You can set up the servers, if they are running the latest versions (i.e. XP, 2003) to share the connection. Then you have to make a second connection to accept incoming connections so you can complete the connection. Then put the IP or number of the line in and dial out and soon it will connect. Please, Don't TAKE MY WORD FOR THIS, I AM NOT 100% SURE!

It is definitely possible to accomplish. The way you do it depends on your existing configuration.

1) Can you be more specific as to what and how your IP address space in each location is configured? Is the IP address space in each location RFC1918 or registered address space? Is there any NAT'ing towards the Internet connection? What type of device connects you to the Internet at each location?
2) When you say they are connected via wireless... how? Are these wireless bridges (i.e. point to point connections)? What make/model? And if Point-to-point what routers do you have at each end?
3) Are you doing subnetting at each location? Any VLANs?

If you can submit a network diagram that would be very helpful in solving this problem.

Casey

This is less a question of connecting two networks together and more of just connecting all the devices individually on the second network to the first network, and not using the second network.

Presumably, all the devices on the 2nd net are connected to one device at that site. That device should be a switch or should be replaced with one. That switch also connects to the wireless router.

The devices on the 2nd network should either have static addresses or look to the first network's DHCP server for addresses.