VPN Setup

[Maxwell5]

I am new to VPNs and would like to setup one for my small business so that my traveling salesmen can access the company network when on the road.

Can this be done with the following equipment:

- Server running Windows 2003 Server
- Cable internet connection shared with Linksys router
- Clients running Windows XP

Are there any other hardware/software requirements?

Thanks,
Maxwell5

 

[loup garou]

Add a second network card and you have a basic PPTP VPN setup. 2003 RRAS is a snap to set up, just make sure to disable all the routing and firewall features if you are using an hardware router/firewall. Oh and don't forget to point port 1723 to your VPN server in your NAT.

 

[Maxwell5]

Thanks for the help.

Would this setup be a good one (i.e. software based) or would it be recommended to go with a hardware based solution like the Linksys BEFVP41, which has VPN capability built in.

thx,
Maxwell5

 

[ShawnReeves]

Im wanting to setup a VPN also for a buddie of mine. He basically wants to connect from one store to another via Dialup. Is this easy to setup using XP Pro?
What would I need?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: amonline
Im wanting to setup a VPN also for a buddie of mine. He basically wants to connect from one store to another via Dialup. Is this easy to setup using XP Pro?
What would I need?

Here's a tutorial on setting up XP as a VPN server. I don't have any experience with using it, but for one or two simultaneous users, I can't imagine it being bad. I'd also set him up with a dynamic dns service such as dyndns.org + an update client, so the other store can connect by just typing in a domain name instead of having to find out what the ip is each time he dials up. You could also set XP to accept incoming connections on the modem and have the other store dial directly into it instead, but this wouldn't be tunnelled like a VPN.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Maxwell5
Thanks for the help.

Would this setup be a good one (i.e. software based) or would it be recommended to go with a hardware based solution like the Linksys BEFVP41, which has VPN capability built in.

thx,
Maxwell5

If you've already got the server, there's no reason not to use RRAS. Admitedly, I don't have too much experience with hardware VPN devices, but at the end of the month, I'll be setting up some of these and these bad boys for one of my clients to connect their SF and SLC offices to their NYC office.

 

[JackMDS]

There is variety of ways to use VPN. It depends on the level of security and ease of setup.

If you go for broke you can do it with the VPN embedded in Windows2003, and Windows XP.

The slightly more expensive Routers like the Linksys BEFVP41, are not VPN appliances they just support VPN transfer better than the Entry Level Routers..

I am not familiar with the products in you links. Sonic has a line that is very popular in small business setting.

Link to: SonicWALL.

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Virtual Private Networks(VPN)

These are secured private network connections, built on top of publicly-accessible infrastructure, such as the Internet or the public telephone network. VPNs typically employ some combination of encryption, digital certificates, strong user authentication and access control to provide security to the traffic they carry. They usually provide connectivity to many machines behind a gateway or firewall.

Quote from: http://vpn.shmoo.com/

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Link: VPN Technologies: Definitions and Requirements

Link: Introduction to VPN.

Link: Microsoft take on VPN.