Connecting to 2 networks at once
My home network has the following hardware:
* IBM T42P ThinkPad laptop running XP Pro
* Desktop Pentium 4 PC (clone) running XP Pro
* HP Media Center PC
* HP LaserJet 3030 printer/copier/fax/scanner connected to the desktop PC through the parallel port with printer sharing enabled
* RCA cable modem connected to Time Warner with Earthlink as my ISP
* Netgear RP114 router/switch
All three computers connect to the internet through the router.
The desktop and the HP Media Center PC are always connected to the HOME network.
Normally I can print from the laptop to the shared printer with no problems.
When I run Cisco VPN client software on the laptop to connect to my company's server,it sees only the company's CA network. When VPN is active, the laptop doesn't see the HOME network and can't use the shared printer.
I've tried connecting a USB-Ethernet adapter to the laptop so it can connect to the CA network via VPN and connect to the HOME network at the same time with the USB adapter, but I can't configure everything to work properly.
1. Is this the right approach? If so, how can should I configure the laptop?
2. The HP3030 printer has 1 parallel and 1 USB connection. Is it possible to connect the laptop to the printer's USB port at the same time the desktop is connected with a parallel cable?
3. Is there a better method?
Thanks in advance for your help.