Command Center

Years and years ago before VPN (Virtual Private Network) became a common term for the corporate workforce, Microsoft created PPTP (Point to point Tunneling Protocol). Like VPN, PPTP allows you to securely connect to remote networks such as your home network or your friends/parents PC’s (in the event they need some tech support…).

Additionally, the nice thing about Microsoft PPTP is you don’t need $10k of dedicated VPN hardware or a Network Admin to set it up. All you need is a Windows 7 PC and 3 minutes to read this groovy How-To Tutorial!

How To Set Up A Home VPN / PPTP Host Using Windows 7

1. Click the Windows Start Orb and Type network connections into the search bar. Then Click the Network Connections link.

2. In the Network Connections window if the File menu isn’t available Hold Alt, then Click New Incoming Connection…

3. Check which users will be allowed to use the connection, you add a new user if you like. Click Next to continue.

4. Check the box Through the Internet then Click Next.

5. Select Internet Protocal Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and then Click Properties. In the Properties window Check the box to Allow callers to access my local area network, and Set Assign IP addresses automatically using DHCP. Now return to the previous window and Click Allow access.

6. Voila, the VPN host connection is now created! We’re not done yet though, now we need to make sure that the gateway firewall (router) on your network is routing the internet PPTP traffic to your Windows 7 Box.

7. From your internet browser Type in your Router Network Address. This is usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 by default on most home networks. Once you’ve accessed your router interface, some routers have the option to enable PPTP passthrough as well as other VPN ports. If this option isn’t available for your router, you can adjust this with port forwarding in the next step.

8. If your router doesn’t have a built-in VPN setting, you can manually open your PPTP VPN port. Under Port Range Forwarding Create a New forward. Set the Start to 1723 and the End to 1723. The protocol should be Set to TCP and the IP Address needs to be set to your local network IP address.

Once the firewall rules are setup it will forward all VPN / PPTP traffic to your Windows 7 box. From there your remote computer will be able to access all the network devices on your home network (Other computers, servers, etc…)

One thing to note – as great as PPTP is, RDP is probably the easier way to access your home network however RDP is limited to remote control only so if your looking to copy files sitting on your home server/PC, using a Home VPN / PPTP is probably the best option.

REFERENCES

http://www.howtonetworking.com/VPN/win7vpn1.htm

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4517-virtual-private-network-vpn-enable-incoming-vpn-connections.html

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/setup-vpn-pptp-host-on-home-windows-7/

[How To] Set Up A VPN outgoing Connection in Windows 7

First of all, please note that this how-to uses the built-in network setup right in Windows 7, so it works the best if VPN server on the other side is also from Windows Server.

Open up network and sharing center from Control Panel, and choose Set up a new connection or network.

There are two options in the Connect to a Workplace window. 99% of the time you just need to pick the first option, unless your company only allows you to dial in using a phone line.

Type in the address in either domain name or IP address, and name the connection in the destination name box. And click Next.

You can leave all user login info blank if you feel safe that way in the next window. And click Create. You’re all set if you see the next window as below.

To launch it, simply click the small network icon on the system tray at the bottom right corner, and pick the connection we just created from the popup list, and connect.

Type in your user name and password, and you are on your way connecting your Windows 7 to your company network.

REFERENCES

http://www.windows7hacker.com/index.php/2009/08/how-to-set-up-a-vpn-connection-in-windows-7/

Configure your Computer to Accept VPN Connections in Windows 7

Hi friends,


I know that many people don't know how to Configure there Computer for
accepting VPN Connections in Windows 7.There are basically two
connection in Vpn one for Incoming & another for outgoing.

Following
are the steps for configuring Incoming VPN Connection in Windows 7

1. First go to Control Panel and
   open Network and Sharing Center.
   
2. Click on Change adapter
   settings.
   
3. Press Alt+F and select New Incoming connection
   
4. Put
   a check on who you’d like to give access to this computer or you can
   configure a new account by clicking on Add someone,after that click on
   Next.
   
5. Put a check mark on Through the Internet. Click on
   Next.
   
6. Select the protocols you want to enable for this
   connection. Click on Allow access.
   
7. Make a note of the
   Computer name as this will be used by the client to connect to this
   computer and after that Click on Close.
8. 
   

Following are the steps for configuring Outgoing VPN Connection in
Windows 7

1. First go to
   Control Panel and open Network and Sharing Center.
   
2. Click on
   Set up a new connection or network.
   
3. Select Connect to a
   workplace then click on Next.
   
4. Select Use my internet
   connection (VPN).
   
5. Type the IP address or computer name where
   you wish to connect and your connection name under the Destination name
   field.
   
6. Enter a User name and password that has been granted
   access to the host computer.
   
7. For getting connected through
   created VPN connection, you can either right-click on the Network icon
   in the system tray and select Network and Sharing Center or go to
   Control Panel and open Network and Sharing Center, and click on Connect
   to a network.
   
8. Now connect VPN Connection windows will
   appears.