Setting up a VPN

To setup VPN, you first need to setup a VPN server. Nortel, Cisco and others make these boxes - you may want to consult your networking folks as to their preferences.

Then you have client software provided from the VPN hardware vendor (or using Microsoft's) which allows the user to logon on to the Internet, then enter their ID and password, then be logged onto your network. Just a note if your users have home hardware firewalls, you may have to do some re-configuration to allow VPN.

I'd have to say its a lot of work for one user - why not find a secure way like RAS for dialling in direct.

Where it is handy is where you have a number of users who already have high speed internet connections, and want the same kind of speed as theyhave in the office. Home workers, remote offices and business partners are all likely candidates.

James

I apologize, I failed to mention that both the company and the owner are running dsl. I don't know if this affects answer 1 or not. I don't think that RAS would work with DSL but I don't know much about this area. Please continue to answer

Connecting Remote Users to Your Network:

Using the remote access services of Windows 2000 Server, you can configure remote access servers that provide connectivity to the corporate network for authorized users. This transparent connection allows remote access clients to access resources from remote locations as if they were physically attached to the network.
Windows 2000 remote access provides two different types of remote access connectivity:

1. Dial-up remote access:

To gain accessto the network with dial-up remote access, a remote access client uses the public telephone network to create a physical connection to a port on a remote access server that sits on the “edge” of the private network. This is typically done by using a modem or ISDN adapter to dial into your remote access server.

2. Virtual private network (VPN) remote access:

A VPN can provide secure remote access through the Internet, rather than through direct dial-up connections. A VPN client uses an IP internetwork to create an encrypted, virtual, point-to-point connection with a VPN gateway that exists on the “edge” of the private network. This is typically done by connecting to the Internet first, and then creating the VPN connection. By using the Internet in this way, companies can reduce their long distance phone expenses and rely on existing infrastructure instead of managing their own.

This link will take you to the whole article (22 pages of instruction and illustration):

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/docs/cnctrmote.doc

The following link will take you to an additional link (on the top-right side of the page) for downloading the article (Word format):

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/incremental/connectremote.asp

(REMOVE SPACES from the pasted URLs.)

Maxwell

Hi ,
try Symantec Power VPN

http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?ProductID=54

Thanks,
Kias

Hi,
Depends on the OS which you are using. If you are using Win2k then use the VPN facility by using certain set of protocols which are pre-defined with the package such as Ms-PPTP, Ms-CHAP etc whihc would provide additional security to the packetstransmitted. If you have a router at both the ends then nothing like it. Using a Cisco VPN software and successful use of IPSec one can be fully assured of non third party interference in transmission. Crypto keys would be an advantage.

Cheers,

Hi, first make sure that your office always has a static IP from your DSL provider.

Next, if you have a Windows 2000 Pro/Server at your office and one more static public IP to spare make use of the VPN facilities provided by Windows 2000. Maxwell's elaborate answers are more than enough. If using a Windows 2000 Pro/Server isn't feasible due to license or pricing issues, then check out some third party, cost effective VPN solution like Symantec's.

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