PPTP VPN Client Setup in Windows Vista

Let me show you simple PPTP VPN client setup in Windows Vista, so that you can connect to XP/Vista PPTP VPN server in your home network from remote location (airport, library, office, restaurant, etc). The data packets will be encrypted if you use VPN connection, so that it won’t be sniffed by hackers using sniffing program.

Ok... Let's start, I will assume you are connected to the network, and here is how you can make it works:

1) Go to Start and right click on Network and then click Properties.

2) Network and Sharing Center window will appear, then click Set up a connection or network option.

Note: You can also click this Set up a connection or network option by going to Start->Connect To.

3) Set up a connection or network wizard will appear, proceed to selectConnect to a workplace option and then click Next.

4) Click on Use my Internet connection (VPN).

Note: I will assume you are connected to the network, so just choosecreate a new connection if you are asked whether to create a new connection or use an existing connection.

5) Ok, here you need to type the IP address or host name of the VPN server computer in your home network and also name the connection. Most of the time it’s the public WAN IP of your home network’s DSL/cable Internet connection if the VPN server is located behind router. Check thiswhat is my WAN IP article if not too sure about WAN IP of your home network's Internet connection.

Note: Also tick that Don’t connect now; just set it up so I can connect later option.

6) Type your user name and password that is permitted to connect to that VPN server, after that click Create.

7) Ok..Now the VPN connection is ready to use, just click Connect nowto establish the VPN connection.

8) Next time whenever you need to establish this VPN connection, just go to Start->Connect To and you will find the connection there.

Configuring PPTP VPN Client in Windows XP

Let’s learn on how to configure PPTP VPN client in Windows XP in this article, then connect to home network’s PPTP VPN server securely. Please note if your PPTP server is behind the router with DSL/Cable Internet connection and you try to connect to it from Internet, then you need to connect to public IP of your DSL/cable Internet connection.

Here is step-by-step instruction on how to configure PPTP VPN client:

1) Go to Start and open Control Panel.

2) Control Panel window will open, then double click Network Connections icon.

3) Click Create a new connection on Network Connections window.

4) New Connection Wizard window will appear, click Next.

5) Select Connect to my network at my workplace option and clickNext.

6) Select Virtual Private Network connection option and click Next.

7) You can then name this VPN connection. Here I put home VPN server. Click Next again.

8) If you have dial up connection setting on your computer, this Public Network window will appear. If you computer already connected to public network or hotspot, click Do not dial the initial connection option. If you need to dial Internet connection and then initiate VPN connection, then you need to select the other option, Automatically dial this initial connection.

9) Ok, here you need to type the IP address or host name of the VPN server computer in your home network. Most of the time it’s the public WAN IP of your home network’s DSL/cable Internet connection if the VPN server is located behind router. Check this what is my WAN IP article if not too sure about WAN IP of your home network's Internet connection.

10) Click Finish to complete the new connection wizard. Tick that Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop option.

11) Now you can go to your desktop and double-click the new VPN connection icon, after that key in your username and password and click Connect button.

Note: If you did not create the shortcut in your desktop, you can locate this new VPN connection icon in Network Connections window.

Note: click the Properties button if you need to change the configuration.

12) Once you are connected to VPN server, the connected icon will be shown in Network Connections window.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Virtual Private Network (VPN) Introduction

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the technology that you can use to access the office or home network remotely and securely over the Internet, so that the communication data is protected from sniffing or hijacking by hackers.

When the VPN connection is established between 2 parties (between a VPN client and VPN gateway or between 2 VPN gateways), a secured virtual tunnel will be created with capability to encrypt the data (so no hacker can see the data content), preserve data integrity (no data change during transmission) and ensure the communication only happen between that 2 authenticated parties.

There are 2 common types of virtual private network, which are remote access VPN and site-to-site VPN.

Remote Access VPN

Remote access VPN is very common VPN service that you can set up in your office or home network. It can be implemented by setting up a VPN gateway or server and you can connect to it by using VPN client from other locations. If not, you can also subscribe to VPN service provided bya VPN provider for similar secure access too.

As you can see from the diagram below, whether at airport, library, restaurant or other public hotspots, the user can launch VPN connection by using VPN client on the computer and connect to VPN gateway. Whenever the user computer sends the data, the VPN client software encrypts that data before sending it over the Internet to the VPN gateway at the edge of the destination network. Once the VPN gateway receives the data, it decrypts the data and sends the packet to the destination computer in its private network (office or home network), after that the destination computer will encrypt the returning data as well.

The remote access VPN is supported by L2F, PPTP, L2TP and IPsec tunneling protocols.

Sometimes if the user uses the web browser instead of VPN client to connect to VPN gateway, we call this type of VPN as SSL VPN.

Site-to-Site VPN

Site-to-site VPN is the VPN connection established between 2 VPN gateways that reside in 2 different networks over the Internet, so that both networks’ computers can exchange data securely. There is no VPN client needed on user computers. The VPN connection will be established between both VPN gateways. Both VPN gateways will encrypt and decrypt the communication data to ensure the security and integrity of data.

The site-to-site VPN can be supported by IPsec tunnel mode, PPTP, L2TP over IPSec tunneling protocols. Interesting? You can also take a look on these VPN products to get more info!