How to Create a Windows XP VPN server

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) uses the public network (the Internet) to connect private remote networks together. For example, from work, you can use a VPN connection to securely access your files on your home XP computer or other files on your home network.

In a home network, you might have a shared folder on a computer that has documents, pictures, music, movies etc that your other home computers can access by mapping a drive to that shared folder. If the shared folder was called “shared files” and the computer sharing it was called “homeserver” , you could also access it from any other computer on your home network by typing \\homeserver\shared files in your browser. You could then transfer files back and forth between the machines on your private home network.

A VPN connection would allow you to connect from work to your home connection just as if your work computer was part of your home network.

Windows XP has it’s own PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol) VPN server and client software built right in.

These are the instructions on how to setup a Windows XP VPN server.

Step One: Go to the control panel, network connections.

Step one Network Connections.gif

Step two: Create a new network connection.

Step two create new connection.gif

Step Three:

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Step Four: Select “Setup an advanced connection”

Step four setup advanced connection.gif

Step Five: Select “Allow incoming connection”

Step five allow incoming connections.gif

Step Six: Click next on this screen

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Step Seven: Allow VPN connections

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Step Eight: Specify who can connect to this computer

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Step Nine: Enable the networking software for your connections

Step nine networking software.gif

Step Ten: Complete the Wizard

Step ten complete wizard.gif

Step Eleven: Go to control panel, network connections, and right click on “incoming connections” and click “properties”.

step eleven incoming connections.gif

Step Twelve: On the networking tab, select “Internet Protocol (Tcp / Ip)” and then click the “properties” button.

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Step 13: Specify the manner in which you want your connections to receive IP addresses for your network, then click OK. You are DONE setting up the VPN server.

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Setup your Router to forward TCP port 1723

This is only for illustration, you will have to setup your router to allow VPN passthrough and and forward TCP port 1723 for the PPTP protocol. These pictures are from a typical Linksys router, yours may be different.

Configuring VPN Passthrough

VPN screens\linksys_vpn passthough.jpg

Configuring port forwarding for TCP port 1723

linksys_vpnports forwarding.jpg

Coming Next - How to setup the VPN client to connect to your XP VPN server.