First time VPN setup with Server 2003

chien_fu · 03-20-2009, 07:25 AM

So I'm very new to the world of VPNs, and I'm trying to set one up for the first time at my office. We use Windows server 2003 and there are only a dozen people who would need access to it, so I'm just setting up an advanced network connection to accept incoming connections.

Howev er, when I select this it asks which devices should allow incoming connections and the only option it gives me is "direct parallel (LPT1)" Wouldn't I want to select something more like "TCP/IP" or "LAN"?

The long and short of the problem is that I can't connect from an external client.

Any help is good help! Thanks.

EricBernier · 03-20-2009, 07:07 PM

Hello,

I am here more to look for solutions than offer answers but hope I can help.
You have to select VPN on the first page of the Remote Access Wizard accessible on 2003 through Things To Do page on server management.

The users will need to have Mobile users or administrative permissions and the router will have to allow VPN passthrough (IPSec, PPTP, L2TP) and some ports need be forwarded to the server machine IP.
You need to forward TCP ports 1723, 4125 and 3389.
You might also need to forward the Secure TCP ports 443-444 but I am not 100% on this last one.

Then you have to configure a VPN Network connection on each client with NEw Connection wizard.
That has worked for me right away and has proven reliable and fast.
Except I have to be outside of our LAN to connect with VPN it won't work from inside the LAN. I had a friend on the outside for the testing. I am sure there is a way to test from inside the LAN but I never even looked into it.

I hope this helps you.
Rgds
Eric

03-20-2009, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
chien_fu Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Win Server 03	First time VPN setup with Server 2003 So I'm very new to the world of VPNs, and I'm trying to set one up for the first time at my office. We use Windows server 2003 and there are only a dozen people who would need access to it, so I'm just setting up an advanced network connection to accept incoming connections. Howev er, when I select this it asks which devices should allow incoming connections and the only option it gives me is "direct parallel (LPT1)" Wouldn't I want to select something more like "TCP/IP" or "LAN"? The long and short of the problem is that I can't connect from an external client. Any help is good help! Thanks.

03-20-2009, 07:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
EricBernier Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3 OS: XP Pro SP3	Re: First time VPN setup with Server 2003 Hello, I am here more to look for solutions than offer answers but hope I can help. You have to select VPN on the first page of the Remote Access Wizard accessible on 2003 through Things To Do page on server management. The users will need to have Mobile users or administrative permissions and the router will have to allow VPN passthrough (IPSec, PPTP, L2TP) and some ports need be forwarded to the server machine IP. You need to forward TCP ports 1723, 4125 and 3389. You might also need to forward the Secure TCP ports 443-444 but I am not 100% on this last one. Then you have to configure a VPN Network connection on each client with NEw Connection wizard. That has worked for me right away and has proven reliable and fast. Except I have to be outside of our LAN to connect with VPN it won't work from inside the LAN. I had a friend on the outside for the testing. I am sure there is a way to test from inside the LAN but I never even looked into it. I hope this helps you. Rgds Eric Last edited by EricBernier; 03-20-2009 at 07:13 PM. Reason: forgot to mention one thing