Set Up a VPN on Client Computers

Applies To: Windows SBS 2008, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard

Note

Windows SBS 2008 does not support dial-up modem connections. You must have a broadband connection to the Internet to access the server over a VPN connection.

To set up VPN on a client computer that is running Windows XP

  1. On the computer that is running the Windows® XP operating system, confirm that the connection to the Internet is correctly configured.

  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  3. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections.

  4. Click Create a new connection.

  5. On the Network Connection Wizard Welcome page, click Next.

  6. On the Network Connection Type page, click Connect to the network at my workplace, and then click Next.

  7. On the Network Connection page, click Virtual Private Network connection, and then click Next.

  8. On the Connection Name page, type a descriptive name for the connection, and then click Next.

  9. On the Public Network page, click Do not dial the initial connection, and then click Next.

  10. On the VPN Server Selection page, type the host name or the IP address of the computer that you want to connect to, and then click Next.

  11. On the Smart Cards page, click Use my smart card if you are using a smart card to connect to the server, or click Do not use my smart card, and then click Next.

  12. Click Anyone's use if you want the connection to be available to anyone who logs on to the computer, or click My use only to make it available only when you log on to the computer, and then click Next.

  13. Select the Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop check box if you want to create a shortcut on the desktop, and then click Finish.

  14. If you are prompted to connect, click No.

  15. In the Network Connections window, right-click the new connection, and then click Properties.

  16. Click the Options tab, and then click Include Windows logon domain check box to specify that you want to request Windows logon domain information before you try to connect.

To set up VPN on a client computer that is running Windows Vista

  1. On the computer that is running the Windows Vista® operating system, confirm that the connection to the Internet is correctly configured.

  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  3. In Control Panel, double-click Network and Sharing Center.

  4. Click Set up a connection or network.

  5. Click Use my Internet connection (VPN).

  6. In the Internet address text box, type either the Internet address name (for example, contoso.com) or the IP address of the server, and type a descriptive name for the connection in the Destination name text box.

    1. If you are using a smart card to connect to the workplace network, click Use a smart card.

    2. If you want to allow anyone who is using the computer to use this connection, click Allow other people to use this connection.

    3. If you want to only set up the VPN connection and connect later, click Don't connect now.

    4. Click Next.

  7. If you chose to only set up the VPN connection and connect later, type a user name and password in the text boxes, and then click Create.

  8. If you want to connect now, type a user name and password in the text boxes, and then click Connect.

To use the VPN connection

  1. To start a VPN connection, do one of the following:

    • Click Start, point to Connect To, and then click the new connection.

    • If you added a connection shortcut to the desktop, double-click the shortcut on the desktop.

  2. If you are not currently connected to the Internet, Windows offers to connect to the Internet.

  3. After your computer connects to the Internet, the VPN server prompts you for your user name and password. Type your user name and password, and then click Connect. You access your network resources the same way that you do when you are connected directly to the local area network.

  4. To disconnect from the VPN, right-click the icon for the connection, and then click Disconnect.