HowTo: Setup PPTP VPN using Windows 2003 Server

Have you ever come across the need to access files remotely, either at work or at home? Well this is a quick way to setup a vpn.

1. On your server, click start, then Manage Server. Add or Remove a Role. Select Remote Access/VPN Server. Then click next.
2. Follow Prompts, when it asks what type of server select custom configuration if you only have one network card.
3. Once your vpn server is working, then right click my computer, select manage computer.
4. Local users and groups. Select the user that you want to allow remote access or create a new one and select properties.
5. Click the tab that says Dial Up Access.
6. Then select allow remote access.
7. Last but not least, you need to port forward port 1723 on your router, as well as enable vpn passthrough for pptp. Now this is where the difficulty occurs. Linksys routers are notorious for not supporting pptp properly, but not supporting the gre authentication protocol on port 47. Make sure your router has the most up to date firmware.


All set.

Chris