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Configuring PPTP VPN on Windows 2000

Mon, 10/27/2008 - 20:25

This article describes how to connect to a VPN under Windows 2000. Using screenshots, it details every step cleary.

Configuring and connecting to the VPN is essentially two steps - though you might want to add extra options or shortcuts. The following details four different steps you might need to take - the essential ones being the first and the third ; the others being optional depending on your particular setup. Your VPN administrator will let you know what you are supposed to do.

  1. The first step will show you how to create the connection itself. This is only done once, the very first time you need to connect to the VPN. For this step, you will the details given to you by the VPN administrator.
  2. The second step is optional, and will show you how to stop all of your traffic going through the VPN. You may or may not want this depending on your se-up - your administrator will let you know whether you should do this or not. As for the previous step, this is only done once when you set up the VPN.
  3. Now that you have set up the VPN connection, the third step shows you how to connect to the VPN. You will do this whenever you want to connect
  4. If in step 2 you decided not to let all your traffic go through the VPN, then the server/computers on the other side of the VPN will not show in your network neighbourhood - but you can access them directly. This step shows you how to create a shortcut to computers on the other side of the VPN on your desktop.

Clicking on the tabs below will take through the detailed instructions with screenshots for each of those steps :

This is the main step - it is only done once, to set-up the connection. Once it's done, you will never need to do it again. For this step, you will need details from your VPN administrator :

  • The IP address or hostname you will be connection to
  • Your username and password for the VPN

Go to "Network and Dial-up Connections" in the Control Panel, and double click on "Make New Connection"

The Network Connection Wizard starts. Click on "Next"

Select "Connect to a private network through the Internet" and click on "Next"

If you get a window asking you which connection to use, select "Do not dial the initial connection" and click on "Next"

Enter the hostname or IP address of the server you will be connecting to. This name or address should be given to you by the administrator. Then click "Next"

Select whether you want all users of the computer to use this connection, or only yourself. Then click on "Next"

Enter the name of the connection (the name is entirely up to you). You may want to tick "Add a shortcut to my desktop" if you want one. Then click on "Finish"

That's it ! Your connection is now setup, a window asking you for your username and password should pop up. You can now go to step 2, or if you don't need it directly to step 3.

The second step is optional ; and is something you will normally do only once when you set up your VPN. By default, when you create a VPN all of your internet connections data go through the VPN. So if you connect from home to your office using the VPN, then everything you access - including for instance Google, BBC, etc. - actually goes through your office before going to you.

You will want this default behaviour (and therefore will not follow the instructions in this step) if :

  • Your VPN administrator has asked you to ;
  • You are using a WIFI connection in a public space and are worried about the security of your data (the VPN connection is enctypted).

You will not want this default behaviour (and therefore will follow the instructions in this step) if :

  • Your VPN administrator has asked you to ;
  • When accessing the VPN you cannot access external websites anymor ;
  • Your access to external websites is considerably slower than if you were using the VPN.

When you start the connection (or just after having created it), you get the 'Connect' window. Click on 'Properties'

Go in the "Networking" tab, select "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and click on "Properties"

In the Internet Protocol window, click on "Advanced"

In the Advanced settings window, UNTICK "Use default gateway on remote network". Then click on "OK" several times until you get back to the first connection window.

That's it ! Your are now ready to connect by following Step 3 !

The third step is simply about connecting.

After starting the connection (or after creating it) you get the connection window. Enter your connection username and password (these will have been given to you by you administrator) and click on "Connect"

If all worked well, you will get the following window

This step shows you how to create a shortcut on your desktop to the server (or other computers) on the other side of the VPN. This is useful if you've had to follow step 2, and thus cannot see the remote computers in your Network Neighbourhood.

Right click on your desktop, go to 'New' and 'Shortcut'

desktop

Enter the IP Address of the server (this will have been given to you by your administrator). Make sure it starts with two backslahes (eg. "\\192.168.11.2")

desktop

Enter a title for the shortcut (this is entirely up to you) and click on "Finish"

desktop

When you double click on the shortcut, you may be asked for your username and password. Those are the ones you use on the server, and may be different than the one you used to connect to the VPN itself. Once you entered those, click on OK

desktop