Create a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 7

You can use the following procedures to create a VPN connection to a remote network. A VPN connection is a method for allowing a computer to access a secured remote network by using a non-secure network, such as the Internet, that lies between them.

The remote network requires a VPN server computer that has two network connections: one to the public network and one to the secured network. Microsoft provides VPN server functionality in the Routing and Remote Access server role that is included with Windows Server.

The client computer on the Internet, which is the VPN client, establishes a connection to the VPN server, and the two computers encrypt all data transmitted between them. When the VPN server receives a packet from the VPN client, it decrypts the packet and then retransmits it on the secure network. Traffic that is sent from hosts on the secured network to the VPN client pass through the VPN server computer, which encrypts the information before transmitting it to the VPN client over the public network.

You can use the following sections to create a VPN connection.