Total Software VPN Connection Solution With XP

[Guest]

I understand Windows XP offers limited VPN capability. Control Panel/Network
Connections/Create A New Network Connection /Set Up An Advanced
Connection/Accept Incoming Connections/Allow Virtual Private Connections/User
Permissions/Networking Software allows me to configure XP to host incoming
VPN session(s). I am worried about limitations imposed by this solution.
For example, is this solution limited to one inbound session at a time? Is
this solution as secure as possible? Is there detailed discussion of this
software feature available in a white paper or elsewhere? Would anybody
recommend this solution over putting a VPN Router (e.g. Linksys) at the
office end? What are the plusses and minusses?

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

You are limited to one incoming VPN connection at a time.

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prcg_cnd_dbem.asp

If you need multiple simultaneous connections you need to look at a server
class OS like Windows 2003 Server/Small Business Server/etc or off load the
VPN server functionality to another device (like the Linksys VPN end-point
router you mentioned) or use a third party application like SSL-Explorer or
Secure Shell (SSH).

http://3sp.com/showSslExplorer.do

http://www.itefix.no/phpws/index.ph...er_op=view_page&PAGE_id=12&MMN_position=22:22
http://www.bitvise.com/tunnelier.html

The advantage SSL-Explorer has is that your clients only need access to a
Java enabled web browser. Likewise SSH used with a private/public key pair
(encrypted with a strong pass phrase) is easy to setup and use. To add an
IPSec/L2TP VPN solution is also inherently more secure than the built-in
PPTP VPN solution in XP.

It really comes down to how many remote users you have, how many need to
connect at the same time, the size of your internet connection to the public
internet, etc...etc...etc...

I am sure others will have additional comments to mine...

Good luck...
--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...