VPN Remote Access

[Guest]

I am setting up a small network for 3 people that need to connect to
workstation or server over the internet to share files and a database (MSDE).
My question is can XP pro be used as an end point for VPN tunnels or do I
have to get 2003 server? I would like them to be able to easily connect to
the tunnel end point.

Is there a better way to do this other, Linksys has a VPN router that looks
to be reasonably priced.

Also, they will be connecting over a DSL link, do they have to get a static
IP or is there some service that can be used in it's place.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mikeklein]

A router with builtin vpn can be easy and cheap (appliance) and many
will support pptp and ipsec.

You could install OpenVPN on WinXP machine too.

Server must have internet visibility, whether by NAT/PAT or ddns...and
you must have a router between clients and xp host that supports vpn
"passthru" or is one advanced enough that you can enable GRE traffic
and port 1723 I think...

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

XP Pro VPN is peer to peer VPN. Or you can setup IPSec VPN. This link may help,

VPN solutions VPN Solutions. 1. Peer to Peer VPN 2. Client to Server VPN 3. Site to Site VPN 4. IPSec VPN 5. Exporting VPN Client Settings ...
www.chicagotech.net/vpnsolutions.htm


Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I am setting up a small network for 3 people that need to connect to
workstation or server over the internet to share files and a database (MSDE).
My question is can XP pro be used as an end point for VPN tunnels or do I
have to get 2003 server? I would like them to be able to easily connect to
the tunnel end point.

Is there a better way to do this other, Linksys has a VPN router that looks
to be reasonably priced.

Also, they will be connecting over a DSL link, do they have to get a static
IP or is there some service that can be used in it's place.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

XP will only accept one incoming VPN connection at a time, so if your going
to have 2+ concurrent users you need to use a VPN end-point type router or
upgrade to Windows 2003 server or upgrade to Small Business Server or going
the OpenVPN route.

I just started using OpenVPN for secure remote access to my home LAN and
that works very well. I run the OpenVPN server on one XP Pro box and can
access any shared folder/files on other XP boxes on my home LAN or use XP
Pro Remote Desktop through the tunnel to access the desktops. There is also
a GUI OpenVPN client for XP...

http://openvpn.net/
http://openvpn.se/

Read the How-To and Ethernet Bridging Notes closely...

The OpenVPN forums...

http://openvpn.se/bb/index.php

As far as addressing is concerned you can either upgrade your DSL connection
so it includes a static IP, ie. more $$$$ probably, or you could use a
dynamic naming service like No-IP.com or dydns.com to map an alias to your
dynamic IP. See http://www.no-ip.com or http://DyDNS.com for details, etc.
You then use the fully qualified domain name (ie. alias) to call your office
server.

--
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...