Setting up a VPN in Windows XP

Virtual private networks, or VPNs, offers a way of communicating securely over public networks such as the Internet. VPNs sprang out of the growing demand for cheaper alternatives to dedicated connections or leased lines, the lifeblood of large corporations in the recent past, but which were expensive, if not difficult, to maintain.

Encryption technology has grown by leaps and bounds from the time the Internet first came about, so much so that today it is taken for granted that encrypted data means secure data. Similarly, tunneling allows packets coming from a local network to be transmitted over the Internet. Using this combination of tunneling and encryption, VPNs allow you to securely connect to your home network over the Internet.

With that out of the way, follow the steps below to set up a VPN server in Windows XP.

1. Go to Start->Accessories->Communications->New Connection Wizard.
2. Click Next.
3. Select Set up an advanced connection, then click Next.
4. Select Accept incoming connections, then click Next.
5. Click Next again.
6. Select Allow virtual private connections, then click Next.
7. Select the users who will be permitted to use the virtual private connection. To add a new user, click Add, then enter the user name, full name and password of the new user. Click Ok.
8. Click Next.
9. Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is selected by default on the next page. Click Properties. You can either accept the default settings, or enter an IP address manually. The IP address should be in the range of IP addresses for your home network, e.g. if you’re home network is on the 192.168.x.x range, then the IP address for your VPN connection should be in that range as well. Leave the other settings as-is. In particular, it is not recommended to allow the remote computer to set its own IP address, as this may well cause connectivity problems.
10. Click Next, then Finish.

The next step is to set up the VPN client on the remote computer. To do this, follow the steps below.

1. Go to Start->Accessories->Communications->New Connection Wizard.
2. Click Next.
3. Select Connect to the network at my workplace, then click Next.
4. Select Virtual private connection, then click Next.
5. On the next page, you can choose to enter a name for the connection, or leave it blank.
6. Click Next.
7. Enter the host name or IP address of the VPN server you set up earlier. If your VPN server has a dynamic IP connection, use a dynamic DNS service such as www.no-ip.com to substitute the server’s IP address with the hostname provided by the dynamic DNS service.
8. Click Next, then Finish.

You will need to set up a few more options on the client.

1. Open My Network Places, select View network connections under Network Tasks.
2. Right-click Virtual Private Network Connection, then click Properties.
3. On the Security tab, click IPSec Settings, then set a pre-shared key for your connection.
4. On the Network tab, select the type of VPN connection you want to set up.

That’s all there is to it. Test the connection to ensure that it’s working. If it’s not, you might need to do the process all over again.

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