Configuring a Win2K VPN Server

In many of my earlier articles, I've said that you shouldn't consider implementing remote access technologies such as Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Terminal Services without implementing a VPN solution to secure that technology. In "Installing a Win2K VPN Server," January 2002, InstantDoc ID 23275, I showed you how to install a Win2K VPN to secure such remote access for your IIS administrators. This month, I show you how to configure a VPN connection, then provide a few tips and tricks for optimizing your PPTP VPN connections.

Configuring a VPN Connection
If you followed the instructions in last month's article, you now have a functional VPN server. Now, I'll walk you through the steps for configuring a VPN connection to your Win2K VPN server:

1. Choose Start, Settings, Network and Dial-up Connections, then select Make New Connection to launch the Network Connection Wizard.
2. Click Next on the wizard's first screen.
3. On the Network Connection Type screen, which Figure 1 shows, select the Connect to a private network through the Internet option. Click Next.
4. The wizard's next screen asks whether the VPN must connect to the Internet. If you're using a cable modem or DSL connection from a remote location such as your home, select the Do not dial the initial connection option. If you're using a dial-up connection to the Internet, select the Automatically dial this initial connection option. Click Next.
5. On the Destination Address screen, which Figure 2 shows, enter the destination of your VPN server. This destination can be an IP address or a DNS name. Click Next.
6. Determine whether you want to create this connection for all users or only yourself, then click Next.
7. Name your connection (e.g., use your company's name followed by VPN). You can have the wizard add a desktop shortcut by selecting the Add a shortcut to my desktop check box.
8. Click Finish.
9. When the VPN connection is complete, the wizard launches a connection dialog box. Click Properties.
10. Click the Options tab, which Figure 3 shows, then select the Include Windows logon domain check box. Keep all the other default settings. Click OK.

Now, connect to the VPN by typing your username, password, and domain. When you're connected, a computer icon will appear in your taskbar. If you hover over the computer icon, Windows provides connection identification and information. You can disconnect your VPN connection by right-clicking the VPN connection in the taskbar and selecting Disconnect. (Note that when you authenticate to a Win2K domain through a VPN connection, the logon script doesn't run. If network drives are mapped through your Win2K logon script and you want to access them, you need to map network drives manually.)

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