Avoid VPN connection interfering with LogOn script

Question

I'm having a problem with my VPN connection at work, interfering with some Internet Connectivity during start up.

I have set up the VPN to not "Use default gateway on remote network" so, once I connect to the VPN, my Internet traffic goes through the normal route and everything works like a charm, including mapped network drives and so on.

The problem I have is at start up (basically when I come in in the morning), what happens here is that there is a Log On script that maps my Documents folder to a network drive (H: as usual). If I left the VPN from the day before, the mapping is broken and I cannot browse to the H drive. The solution is generally to disconnect the VPN, browse to the H drive (which will work ok now) and then reconnect the VPN (at this point the H drive will keep on working fine).

Does anyone have any idea what may cause this and how to overcome the problem? I'm sorry I don't have access to the Log On script but I'm assuming is a pretty standard thing (I've seen it in other workplaces).

I'm an admin on the machine and I was thinking that a solution could be to add a script that disconnect the VPN (using rasdial) before Log On. Do you think it's a good idea or is there something else I should consider?

Answer 1

You could use the following, which will automate the process you posted as a work-around:

@echo off
rem disconnect from VPN
rasdial vpnserver /disconnect

rem explore to the H drive
cd H:
explorer .

rem reconnect to VPN
rasdial vpnserver stationname password

You may also consider removing the map to H and recreating it, possibly after disconnecting from the VPN and before exploring to H:

rem remove map to H
net use H: /del /y

rem restore map to H
net use H: "\\network\path"