Separate network for screen share

[kyjolski]

Dear fellow Geeks & Networking Enthusiasts,

I would like to obtain your advice on the following network scenario that I would like to setup at home.

I am working remotely via a laptop connecting to a VPN (corporate network). I would like to be able to screen share the screen of my laptop to my home PC for to achieve better work comfort (27" display and a mechanical keyboard + the ability to switch between PCs within 1 system environment can go a long way).
I have a simple Cisco modem-router that connects all my hardware to the internet (cable ISP). My PC is connected via Ethernet, the rest (laptop, phones, other PCs) via WiFi. My home PC is running Win 8.1, while the laptop is on Win 7.

My attempts at any screen sharing via LAN were unsuccessful. I am not a networking specialist, but I guess this is because when my laptop is connecting to the VPN then it is basically connected to the external corporate network, hence connecting to local LAN PCs at home won't work.

Here is what I would like to set up:
*Home PC*
Network Adapter #1 - built in Ethernet card, cable connection to the home router to get internet.
Network Adapter #2 - 2nd USB Ethernet card, cable connection to the work laptop to create local network between the two computers.
*Work laptop*
Network Adapter #1 - built in WiFI card, connection to the home router to get internet and connect to the VPN.
Network Adapter #2 - built in Ethernet card, cable connection to the home PC.

So, in essence, a separate Local LAN for screen sharing only:
Home Adapter #2 <---- cable ----> Work Adapter #2

Is this plausible? Will it work? Am I a total knob missing something very obvious, like a simpler solution? Please lend me a hand and let me know!

 

[bill001g]

It should work fine with just single nic and single network. You should be able to see the local lan address of the laptop from your pc without putting extra nic/netoworks.

The reason it likely does not work and will likely also not work with multiple nics is they way the VPN is configured. Most corporate vpn installs are configured to prevent split tunnel. They force all traffic except the traffic to the vpn server to go thought the tunnel.

This is done to prevent what you are attempting and to prevent people from creating connection for unauthorized people. It also prevent printing to a local network connected printer so we get complaints all the time.

So first question for your IT group is do they allow split tunnel.

 

[kyjolski]

Why would the VPN settings matter? Can the VPN block local settings on my PC? I guess it's because I'm essentially logging into AD and thus the domain policies affect me?

Damn 🙁

 

[bill001g]

The domain policies also will have a affect if they use group policy. Many of the vpn client options are set dynamically when you connect. This is a function of how VPN works. It assumes when you open a vpn tunnel you want to send all traffic via the tunnel and overrides the routing in the pc. You can try to change the routing and see what happens. I know the client the company I work for uses, the minute you make any change to the routing the vpn client terminates.