Section 3: Configuring the VPN client (PC connecting to the VPN server).

• Step 1: First we need to click on the "start" menu and then click on "control panel", you will see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-A.

Figure 3-A

• Step 2: Next we will need to click on "Network and Internet Connections" as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-A above. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-B.

Figure 3-B

• Step 3: Next we will need to click on "Network Connections" as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-B above. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-C.

Figure 3-C

• Step 4: On this screen you will see the currently configured network connections to the right and then a menu on the left. Don't worry if the connections on the right don't look exactly like the ones in Figure 3-C. Next we will need to click on "Create a new connection" to the left, in the "Network Tasks" section as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-C above. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-D.

Figure 3-D

• Step 5: You have now opened up the "New Connection Wizard",  if you remember we used this in section 1 to create the VPN server connection. This screen is purely informational, we will just need to click on the next button as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-D above. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-E.

Figure 3-E

• Step 6: Now we will need to click on the radio button next to "Connect to the network at my workplace" as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-E above and then click the next button once that has been selected. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-F.

Figure 3-F

• Step 7: Now we will need to click on the radio button next to "Virtual Private Connection" as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-F above and then click the next button once that has been selected. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-G.

Figure 3-G

• Step 8: Now we will need to name this VPN connection by typing in the "Company Name" field as shown in Figure 3-G above. In this instance I just used the name "VPN Connection" but you can use anything you wish. Once you've named the connection click the next button. Next you should see a screen similar to the one in the image below in Figure 3-H.

Figure 3-H

Figure 3-I

• Step 10: You now see the "Completing New Connection Wizard" dialog. You will want to click on the box next to "Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop" and then it should have a check mark in the box. Now we will just need to click on the finish button as shown outlined in red in Figure 3-I above and you are done.
• Step 11: Now on your desktop you should have an icon called "VPN Connection", double click on that icon and you will see a login screen similar to the one in Figure 3-J below.

NOTE: Replace VPN Connection above with whatever you named the VPN connection in Step 8 of Section 3.

Figure J-3

Type in the login name and password of the user that you assigned to the VPN server connection in Step 10 of Section 1 and click on the connect button. Provided you had the proper equipment and followed the instructions above you should be able to connect to the VPN and access shares securely that you have made available to the VPN user that you created or assigned in this tutorial.

If you get an error message you can refer to the "Troubleshoot VPN Connections" section in this microsoft document.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314076

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this article on configuring a free home VPN solution, see you next time.

Digg this article