Using IP when connecting VPN is OK and many people do that. If you do want
to use the name, you may want to setup WINS.

is serverIP is DFS server IP or DC? Posting the result of net view
\\serverIp here may help.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Don Devenney" <DonDevenney@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F94EA150-590D-4424-A9E8-FB62FAAF5496@microsoft.com...
>I have a rather perplexing issue involving a Vista machine trying to map a
> network drive over a VPN. First, the environment:
>
> I have a W2K3 R2 domain - servers fully patched, etc, and all XP SP3
> clients. We use Dfs to replicate files between our branch offices and
> have
> been doing so for almost 2 years. It's stable and working well. I have a
> few
> road warriors who connect back into the network via a PPTP VPN (yes, I
> know...). After connecting, they run a simple batch file containing Net
> Use
> commands to connect them to their network drives. This usually works.
>
> The issue concerns a user - a former employee, now a contractor - who is
> trying to connect into our network and map drives. He's using a Vista
> Business machine that is a domain member of the org. he's now working for.
> The Net Use command will complete, however he won't be able to "drill
> down"
> in the directory he's mapped to. He gets an access denied error if he
> tries
> to go lower than: \\serverIP\namespace\sharename. (note that I have to
> use
> \\ServerIP as I haven't been able to get name resolution for the domain
> name
> to work over the VPN connection).
>
> However, if he tries to connect to:
> \\ServerIP\Data\Sharename, where "Data" is the name of the actual
> directory
> on the server being represented by Dfs, then he can connect and drill down
> through his mapped drives.
>
> My questions are: a) Any thoughts as to why he can't drill down once he
> gets a drive mapped? He has all the required permissions.
> b) Is it safe to let him work in the actual data directory that Dfs is
> representing?
>
> Sorry for the long-winded post but I wanted to paint as clear a picture as
> possible.
>
> Thanks
>
> Don