Problem with VPN connection on SQL server

Hi,
my customer has a strange problem. In the LAN-enviroment the application can
connect the local SQL server as well as on the central database. The problem
occurs when a laptopuser wants to connect the central server via VPN.
The server (evnapp) and the disks of the server are accessible. A ping gives
the correct IP address.
But when connecting the database via:
Provider=sqloledb;driver={SQL Server};Network=DBMSSOCN;uid=xxx;
server=evnapp;database=xxx and so on the local engine is connected ?
There is a host table on the pc (laptops) which maps evnapp to the correct
IP.
When using the IP addres in stead of the server name the same thing happens.
A local connection.
The only time it does work is when the host table is removed after the
connection is estabilshed.
Is it the host table? Or the VPN-software?(Tunix/VPN for windows) . What can
it be. But stations (desktops) who were installed several months ago are
using the same host table and do not have any problems.
All pc's are running win2000. SQL 2000 is used.
Does this ring a bell ? If so please reply
Ton
begin 666 LMHOSTS.dat
M,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N-#@.)979N9&,P,0T*,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N-30)979N9&,P
M,@.T*,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N,S4)979N9G,P,0T*,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N-#,);FAL
M<W)V,#0-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.T+C0R"65V;F1C<F0-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C0W
D"65V;F%P<# R#0HQ,C<N,38X+C$X,"XS- EN:&QS<G8Q. T*
`
end
begin 666 hosts.dat
M(R!(;W-T($-O<'ER:6=H="!.:65U=R!(;VQL86YD<V4@.3&QO>60@.,3DM,#8M
M,C P,@.T*#0HQ,C<N,"XP+C$@.(" @.(" @.;&]C86QH;W-T#0H-"B,@.<VUT< T*
M,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N-#,);FAL<W)V,#0-"@.T*(R!(5%10#0HQ,C<N,38X+C$X
M,"XS,0EN:&QS<G8Q.0T*,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N,S$):6YT<F%N970N;FAL+79E
M<GIE:V5R:6YG96XN;FP-"@.T*(R!!4R\T,# -"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C(S"5,T
M-$$V,#(V#0HQ,C<N,38X+C$X,"XR- E3-#1&,38Q. T*,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N
M,C8)4S0T,4%#.4$-"@.T*(R!305 -"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C8P"65V;G-A<'!R
M9 T*,3(W+C$V."XQ.# N,S<)979N<V%P86-C#0HQ,C<N,38X+C$X,"XU.0EE
M=FYS87!O;G0-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C,V"65V;G-A<&1E=@.T*#0HC($YE=$))
M3U,-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C0X"65V;F1C,#$-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C4T"65V
M;F1C,#(-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C,U"65V;F9S,#$-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C0V
M"65V;F9S,#(-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C0U"65V;FEI<S Q#0HQ,C<N,38X+C$X
M,"XV,0EE=FYI<V$-"C$R-RXQ-C@.N,3@.P+C,T