A virtual private network (VPN) enables you to establish a
secure connection between a client computer and a remote network across an unsecure intervening network such as the Internet. For
example, you might use a VPN connection to connect your home PC to your office
network to enable you to gain access to servers and printers on the network.

Windows 2000 includes the capability to create and use VPN
connections without the addition of other software. Follow these steps to
create a VPN connection:

  1. Open
    the Network And Dial-Up Connections folder.
  2. Double-click
    the Make New Connection icon to start the Network Connection Wizard.
  3. In the
    wizard, choose the option Connect To Private
    Network Through The Internet and click Next.
  4. If you
    need Windows to dial a connection to your ISP before initiating the VPN
    connection, choose the dial-up connection from the drop-down list. If not,
    choose Do Not Dial The Initial Connection. Click
    Next.
  5. Enter
    the IP address or fully qualified host name of the VPN server and click
    Next.
  6. Specify
    whether the connection should be available to all users on the computer or
    only to your account, click Next, and then click
    Finish.

When you double-click the VPN connection, Windows displays a
dialog box that prompts you for user name and password. Enter your credentials
hosted by the VPN server and click Connect to initiate the connection.

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