How to Set Up a Remote Access VPN
Remote access computer technology provides flexibility with the ability to access your home computer when traveling, or access your office computer when at home. However, because the Internet is a public network, information sent and received should be protected using virtual private network (VPN) encryption technology to ensure that your data is secure while at the same time leveraging the convenience of remote connectivity.
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Things You'll Need
- Office or home computer
- Remote computer
- Internet IP address of the office or home computer
Instructions
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1
Select the "Start" button, select "Control Panel," select "Network and Internet" and then "Network and Sharing Center." Click the "Manage network connections" link.
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2
Select the "New incoming connection" link, and then click the box next to each user account that you wish to grant remote VPN access. Click the "Next" button and then click the "Through the Internet" checkbox and click "Next."
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3
Double-click the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" item and then select the "Allow callers to access my local network" checkbox. Select the "Assign IP addresses automatically using DHCP" radio button, click the "OK" button and then click the "Close" button.
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4
Click the "Start" button on the computer that will be connecting to the office or home computer using VPN. Click "Control Panel," click "Network and Internet" and then select the "Connect to a network" link in the "Network and Sharing Center" area.
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Select the "Set up a connection or network" link, select "Connect to a workplace" and then click the "Next" button.
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Select the "Use my Internet connection (VPN)" item, type the Internet IP address of the office or home computer into the "Internet address" field, type a name for the VPN connection in the "Destination name" box and select the "Don't connect now; just set it up so I can connect later" checkbox. Click the "Next" button to proceed.
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7
Type the username of the account that has been granted VPN access to the home or office computer in the "User name" field, enter the password for the account in the "Password" field and then select "Remember this password" so you do not have to type the password each time you wish to connect. Select the "Create" button to finish and save the configuration.
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8
Click the "Connect now" item to connect and test the VPN connection.
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Tips & Warnings
If the home or office computer that is receiving the VPN connection is behind a firewall and not connected directly to the Internet, you will need to configure the firewall or router to forward TCP port 1723 to the private network IP address of the home or office computer, and also configure the firewall or router to pass through "GRE" or "PPTP." Then configure the remote computer to connect to the external IP address of the firewall instead of the home or office computer in order to establish the VPN connection.
References
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