same workgroup - different subnet

[hobey19]

alright, quick question for you guys. i am sure there is an easy explination for this one, i just can't figure it out

i am on a college lan in which many people are on the default workgroups (mshome or workgroup). i decided to change mine so people couldn't stumble onto my files easily. now, here is the thing, i can view other people's files just fine from any computer, so i thought about telling a couple of my friends about this idea, and put them on the same workgroup so we could transfer files back and forth, and share my printer, because they are just coming to my room anyway, and i have to stop what i am doing to let them print. so i gave it a test run with my roommate and it worked perfectly.

so i decided to tell one other guy about it who lives two doors down. he is on the same workgroup, he can't see me and i can't see him. we are on different subnets, however. the reason i would think this should work is because when i was on workgroup, i could view other people's comps on the same workgroup, but a different subnet. so my question to you is, is there anything special i have to do to get this to work? thanks

craig

[mbossman2]

PC's on different subnets might as well be on seperate planets. Most switches do not have the ability to route traffic between subnets. No matter what you do, unless the switch you are connected to has the ability to see and route to the other subnet AND permission has been given for the switch to allow this to happen, will you be able to share files and print to each other's machines.

[hobey19]

alright, i figured it was a lost cause, i was just trying to make it easier on myself with the printer sharing. thanks a lot

craig

[mbossman2]

the only other option you could use is to leverage the internet, create a VPN tunnel between the 2 machines and then share that way, but that seems like an awful lot of effort.

Or you could ask, real nice like, the IT department to but you both on the same VLAN, its not hard and can be accomplished with a few keystrokes.

[hobey19]

alright, well, i know a couple of the kids they hired to work in IT at the help desk because they are in the work-study program. i can see if they will ask one of the higher-ups

thanks a lot for your help mbossman2

craig

[mbossman2]

you're welcome